HIGHLAND AND CLASSIC DANCING

Southland Times, Issue 24887, 29 October 1942, Page 2

HIGHLAND AND CLASSIC DANCING

DEMONSTRATION IN CIVIC THEATRE The true beauty of national dancing when it conforms closely to tradition was shown last night when pupils from the Southland School of Highland and Classic dancing presented a well-bal-anced programme to a packed house in tire Civic Theatre. Mr Alex. Sutherland, the principal, has taught Highland dancing in Invercargill for 39 years, and theatre-goers look forward with keen anticipation each year to his annual demonstration. Last night the standard he has always set was well maintained and all the performers received an enthusiastic reception. This year the proceeds are to go to the Omaui Children’s Health camp and after the concert Mr M. Miller, a member of the executive, thanked Mr Sutherland for his generosity and public-spirited action. The Mayor, Mr A. Wachner, presented the trophies won during the year by the pupils. The programme opened with an impressive presentation of the sword dance in which all the school took part. A particularly graceful exhibition of the seann triubhais was given by Miss Reta Troon, the senior champion, and a clog dance done to waltz time also received a good reception. Both the senior and junior pupils danced the sailor’s hornpipe with grace and precision and a special number, “The Clansman’s Sword Dance,” composed by Mr Sutherland and danced by Misses Audrey Duff, Hazel Turner, Reta Troon and Marjorie Brown, proved to be the most popular item in the first half of the programme. In the second half all the pupils danced the Highland fling, the seann triubhais and the Irish jig, in which the steps were true to the tradition of the dance. The supporting artists contributed a great deal to the success of the programme. Mr J. Stevenson has a pleasing baritone voice and the four wellknown songs he sang made him a favourite with the audience. The fresh, young voices of the members of the Southland Girls’ High School Choir were heard to advantage in several part songs, and Miss Nancy O’Brien was called upon to sing several extra numbers. Misses Rosalie Ferry and Marie Winders, winners of the pianoforte duets at the 1941 and 1942 Dunedin competitions, played the Zampa Overture in an accomplished manner. Nurses from the Kew Hospital in old world costume danced a graceful minuet, the vocalist being Miss S. Dunbar. The accompanists were Mrs L. E. Dailey and Miss D. Thomson and the piper Mr R. F. Donaldson.