SOLWAY COLLEGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 December 1938, Page 10

SOLWAY COLLEGE

ANNUAL DISPLAY. AN ENJOYABLE FUNCTION. Great interest was aroused by the annual display of handwork, gymnastics and ■ dancing given by pupils of Solway College to parents and friends on Thursday night. The women were particularly interested in the mannequin parade which opened the programme. Great credit is due to those girls whose work in this direction presented such a varied and attractive display. Tambourine dancers next took their place in a delightfully fast moving gypsey phantasy, followed by the juniors who were charmingly natural in their series of Scandinavian dances. “Boys” and girls in picturesque Tyrolean costumes transported their audience to the Bernese Oberland, in a truly characteristic tap-dance including the rhythmic hand-clapping of the peasants of that district. A stir of anticipation was felt at the total extinction of all the lights. The flash of torch-lit clubs introduced clubswinging, a novel number which was greatly appreciated. While the hall was being cleared for gymnastics, the studio was officially opened. Here, those with artistic leanings had been allowed to develop their ideas in a creditable variety of useful and beautifully finished articles, including attractive little garden ornaments, hand-punched leather work, pewter work and a variety of oilpaintings and drawings. Their versatility continued to be shown in canework, designs on parchment and the more intricate processes of French polishing.

After a suitable interval the entertainment continued with a well-balan-ced and neatly executed table of Swedish drill, followed by a spectacular demonstration of gymnastics with horse and ropes, which inspired respect for the fitness of those seniors and for the alertness with which their display was carried out. Another short interval allowed time for rapid changing into colourful peasant. costumes to represent the countries whose folk dances were interpreted so whole-heartedly for the audience. With the exception of one very amusing Swedish dance for “boys” only, all the dances included parts for girls and boys. From Scandinavia to Greece; from Holland to Czecho-Slovakia, the rrierry little tunes led the dancers through graceful rhythms and vigorous actions? pleasing both to the eye and to the ear. This feature contributed by senior and intermediate dancing classes brought the evening to a successful close.

OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION.

WANGANUI BRANCH MEETS

An enjoyable afternoon was spent recently at the home of Mrs Keenan, when members of the Wanganui branch of the Solway College Old Girls’ Association held their monthly meeting. Those who did not play tennis were catered for in the shade of the garden and a happy time was spent in renewing old friendships.

The election of officers resulted: President, Mrs T. Aiken, Fordell; vicepresidents, Mesdames S. Keenan, M. Rabone and I. Simpson; joint secretaries, Miss B. Dunkley, Wellington, and M. Cockburn, Marton.

At the request of members, Mrs C. Davies, who as Miss Hawkes was a teacher at Solway College, consented to be patroness of the branch. New members enrolled were Mrs E. Shepherd, Mrs C. Davies, Miss J. Nillson, and Miss J. Donald, making a total of 38. The next meeting, on the last Wednesday in January, will take the form off a picnic party to the Turakina Valley, at the invitation of Miss B. Baldwin.