THE DANCING ACADEMY

NZ Truth, Issue 1209, 31 January 1929, Page 15

THE DANCING ACADEMY

Poise, Grace and Beauty In The Making:

A soft swaying melody, a pretty child' in a pink dress dancing gracefully to the music of a somewhat worn piano, a dozen children standing patiently at the side watching for the change m tempo which is the cue for their lively entrance, Jjj, JT.J

OVER all presides the young lady who turns awkward children into smart professional dancers. Miss Lilian O'Leary, a successful Auckland teacher 'of dancing, pauses for a minute to talk on the subject of terpsichorean art.' "Dancing gives us poise, grace, and beauty of body," said Miss O'Leary. "It helps to destroy self-consciousness, and gives a filip to latent charm. "The pupil is apt to absorb sometimes unconsciously, a graceful way of using her hands and arms, of Ijoising her head ahd betokening m her face a charm of expression which adds to her personality. "Facial expression is one of the most important things m miitfetic dancing.' /. "The smile, for instance, p^ays a great part and must not be too closely allied to a grin, but such as may come from an inward joy of dancing. "Beauty and rhythm may be taught provided the pupil has ordinary intelligence, for it is the mind that controls the body. Patience! Yes, I suppose J have a fair amount of it," smiled Miss O'Leary, "but really most children are so keen that 5?"^; a pleasure to teach them. ..•iv "I first show; them how to walk correctly, for not one girl m a hundred knows how to walk correctly, y '"'■'. "Then I try to fathom^the class of mind I have to deal wi.tJfc. so that I may treat the child according to her temperament. • " ■; : "The emotional tj'pe is usually more responsive. ; _Too much grooming sometimes spoils individuality. "The tiny 'ones respond when they understand that it is a pleasant game, they are playing with hie. I find that 'being one of themselves' is the line of action which brings greatest, success. "It is through -the various amateur dancing schools that the professional companies recruit their ballets. "Thurza Rogers, principal danseuse -with Pavlova, Zelda Bailey, an Auckland girl who under the name of 'Zelda' has attained international fame, and Joan Beere, now starring ; m Europe, all graduated from the dancing school m Wellington where I received my first dancing lessons. "Prologues and pantomimes for local theatres offer the children opportunity for practical stage experience, and are sometimes stepping : stones ,to greater

. things,*?; concluded Miss- O'Leary. "On^theT right foot. Glissade, Jete! Pirouette! Entrez — chat! "Get those knees well turned out. I don't want to see the front of the knee, I want to see the inside." The dancing lesson had commenced again. ' — ' mmmm m m _■_——————__■ mmmaomsmmmmm — ■ — ■ __■_——