DANCING MATINEE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 36, 5 November 1937, Page 7

DANCING MATINEE

Miss Jean Ballantyne's Pupils Perform PLEASING EFFECTS _T u i II . Any dancing which features graceful movements a^d perfect rhythm is delightf ul to waf ch, but / when these two are combined with most charmi,ng frockiug the. effect ' is even more pleasant. Such was the case at the' matinee of dancing presented in thp Hastings Municipa} Theatre yestorday afternoon in which well over 100 pupils of Miss Jean Ballantyne.took part. The theatre was very well dlled^ and as the proceeds were in aid of . the Hawke 's Bay Children 'a Home, their funds should benefit considerably, The programme, wnicli was an excellent; oue, was divided into eeverai groups, exereises and, first steps, a lamous pigture group, operatxc, fap» dancing, classicai, national, modera dancing and a eplendid bailet, tnus covering a very wide field of dancing and giviug bvidenco of much excellent traiuing. Much praise was also given to the originality used in planning tnesa groups, wiiich were all most effectiye. Thp opening exorcises, shown by about 80 pupils, wero splendidly carried out and; the mime studiee by the. little pnes were very much enjoyed, especiaily as they were carried out to versee suilg by the choristers pf St. Matthew 's choir. In the famous picture group four senior pupils represented four different paintings and in turij. stepped from the large frame and danced a solo dance before returning to iorm the picture she depictecf. Tke operatic group was also delightful I und severai short ballete from nursery rhymes were given as well as a solo and duet, the group concluding with an operatie polka, The words of the nursery rhymes were gpoken. by Mrs O. C, Moller. Hans Anderson 's fairy tale, "Hausel and Gretel^'^ becapie charmingly realistie when cleveriy shown as a story bailet. The music was from the opara by Englebert Humperdinck and songs were sung by tbe choristers of St. Matthew's choir. The frocks throughout wero most attractive, especially in the opening scene when eight eouples danced a. folk dance of Mecklenburg. Hansel and Gretel danced a duo and this was follorjred by a series of shqrt. dances which were thoroughly enjoyed,

the dance of the bride, thp wild rbse dance, the dance of the moon moths, ' fgiry froHc and the dance of the witches, the colourful frocks being much adjnired, Tap-Dance Group, Excellent time, with intricate steps was seea during the tap dance group in which severai tap dances were given by the juniors, intermediates and senior$." and their efforta received very hearty applause. The dancers looked most at-. tractive in dainty shqrt frocks of taffeta with a double frill at the hem and over the, shoulders, each group being in a different shade, and i.t was obvious that much training and practicp had been given for the reeults to be sq good. > A delightful classical group was alsq included on the programme and very dainty dances were done in smaller groups^ these including a dance of summer, the dance of the cornflowers, a grasshoppers dance and a mist dance, the frocks being very colourful and the dancing m°st graceful. Modern dancing, too, was not forgotten, and this item which was called , "Machinery was exceptionally clever. This particular dancing is not entirely pew to the Hastings audience whq have previously seen sampies Qf the work at recitals pf Misa.Ballantyne'o, but it is a typo which requires much skill and a large portion pf originality. The dancers wore black suits with a machinery effect' in silver cn the jumpers and the item was the subject of much favouyable comment.

The flnal group was the national dancing and each part was very well danced and greatly interested the audience. The national costumes gave a gay touch of colour to a most pleaaant scene. The group opened with a Russian folk Jance, and as a complete contrast to this quick dance was a French flower girls' dance, those taking part carfying baskets of lovely flowers. England waa represented with a sailor's hornpipe splendidly dancedf and Ireland with an Irish ljlt and an Irish reel, both being much applauded. Spain had four dances, a" fandango and jota danced by the youngor pupils, a cabaret tango mosu attractively danced by older pupils and lastly an andalasian tango, danced by Fay Hall, which was probably the item most enjoyed on the whole programme. The accompaniments wero very capabiy played by Miss Mary Colliiis (piano) and Mr H. Cooper (violin). Mr S. P. Spiller was the etage manager and Miss Marjorie Ebbett was responsxble for the stage decorations, huge clusters of greea and purple balloons being arranged on eithey pide of the stage to • give the effect of hanging clusters of lovely grapes. The choregraphy, costumes and production were the work of Miss Jean Ballantyiie. The Performers. Those tahing part were; Brenda Grieve, Judith Perry, Joan Potter^ Barbara Herrick, Betty Nimon, Betty Treacher, Bettina Smith, Betty Shirley, Gloria Spinney, Elizabeth Newbigin, Jennifar Whyte, Margaret Holden, Jennifer Campbell, Sally Whyte, Patty Riley, Myola Warrington, Dora Toulmm, Helen Eockyer, Judy Retemeyer, Judy Rathbone, Isobel and Marie , Petersen, Yalerie McQuilkan^ Judith | McNab, Joau Webb, Alisou Dorcen, I Hucy Cassin, Betty Ross, Fay and Peggy ' Hall, Fay Charlton, Kathleen Riley, I Betty ifehadbglt, Audrey Harrisoii, Peggy Hxldreth,' Sally McVay, Merie Beyers, Marie Hyde, Ngaire Thompson, Pamela Cashmore, Djana Buddo, Betli Thompson, Nola Sowersby, Diatia P>aileyt Barbara Bayley,' Jean Gordon, Judith Wilson, Nan Hyslop, Both Tomblegon, Annette Armstrong, Judith Avery, Anna Bygum, Anne Campbell, fiuzanne Stea.d, Jane Whyte, Patrlcia

Connort Elaine Harvey, Elizabeth Campbell, Shirley Kettlo, Jill Beamish, Rosalxne MoUer, Joan Gunn, Betty, Jpan and Ruth Clark, Hilary Wilson, Bay Seton, Greta King, Bob Charlton, Brunton WiUiams, Claire Thompson, Maxxno Phillips, Barbara Ppnnelly, Ngaire Cook, Fay McNab, Eorna and Noreen Pepper, Yalerie Farmery, Helen Cghen, Jean Simpson, Aiison and Pamela Lockyer, Yvonne Estaugh, Nora and Mary Blackmore^ Jocelyn and Barbara Macniven, Isobel Chubb, Koi Taylor, Meryn Kirkpatrick, Shirley Anderson, Ian McCorkindale, Elizabeth Averxll, Naucy Dunn, Joan Brehaut, June Burton# Hilda Mawson, Josephine Nimon, June Hyland, Elizabeth Hassall, Janice Toulmin, Josephine Hunter, Doreen Mullinder, Leslie Jamieson, Shirley Beckett, Barbara Forde, Anthea Foyd, Jean. Kittow, Barbara Towers, Janet Waterworth; Myra Evans, Helen MePhail, Janet McKinnon, Ngaira Murphy, Helen Laking, Jocelyn France, 'Nancy Eomas, Mcrielina Marshall, Joan Gunn.