AUCKLAND COMPETITIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 251, 22 October 1926, Page 9

AUCKLAND COMPETITIONS.

YESTERDAY'S SESSIONS. INTEREST OF PUBLIC INCREASES. JUDGE SAYS DANCING IS EXCELLENT. Large audiences were present for both sessions of the Auckland Competitions Society's annual festival yesterday. The judge of the dancing classes expressed pleasure last evening at the very high quality of dancing throughout the competitions. Results :— Dance Duo. Under 11. Joy Simon and Olga Elsmore, 74 points 1 Gladys Anderson and Lorraine Cunningham, 72 points 2 Ruby Jones and Gladys Cain, 71 points 3 The winners gave a novel display which was extremely dainty. Toe Dance. Under 15. • Eunice Riley and Irene Long, 70 points, equal 1 Edna Tullett, 69 points 3Miss Riley showed good head and arm work, while Miss Long had a very neat style. Miss Tullett had a free style and a happy smile. Vocal Duet. Ladies or Gentlemen. Miss Ina Thompson and Mrs. Hale, "Barcarolle," 79 points 1 Misses Winnie and Sybil Stevens, and Misses Florrie Sutherland and Beryl Smith, 76 points, equal 2 The judge said that in a vocal duet one of the most important features was the blending of the two voices. A n umber of the competitors did not blend, although both voices were good. Piano Duet. Winnie Plant and Agatha Devlin, 82

points Thelma and Owen Jensen, and Winnie Webster and Ruth Taylor, 80 points, equal

The performances in the class were very equal. The winners had a difficult piece, the wildness being well maintained. Other competitors gave- good renderings. Misses Jean'Robertson and Marjorie Fraser were also recalled, but lost marks through lack of balance.

Sacred Song. ... ■' ; ■ • Ladies. Miss Ina Thompson, "0 Divine Redeemer," 89 points 1 Miss Edna Peace, "Abide With Mc," 87 points 2 Miss Beryl Smith, "Abide With Mc," 84 points 3 The winner gave a good rendering, while both Miss Peace and Miss Smith were pleasing. Recitation. Girls, »to 10. "The Unseen Playmate." (R. I;. Stevenson). Ruth Gourdie, 86 points 1 Gwen McNaughton, 84 points 2 Mavis Heading, 82 points 3 Very highly commended: Gwenneth Woolley, Dorothy Badcock and June Grantley. Highly commended: Nancy Barker, Evelyn Corner, Gwen Darling, Glensie Adams, and Pattie Gilmour. The judge said that the poem required a simple rendering, and the winner succeeded in realising this fact. Humorous Recitation. Girls under 16. ■Rona Speed, "Bride's First Visit," 76 pbints 1 Gladys Cain, "Flossie Goes to Blackpool," 74 points 2 Rosalie Daniels, "Our Christmas Dinner," 73 points 3

: v -"t-Thp -w-inrler ,-gave a fine performance. The work of Miss Cain was good, but she was inclined to overdo the piece. The piece chosen by Miss Daniels was not very humorous, and the points were not well brought out.

Test Recitation. Gentlemen. "The Slave's Dream. The Rev. Jasper Calder, 76 points... 1 Mr. E. B. Kemsley (Cambridge), 74 points t 2 Mr. Walter O'Connell, 73 points 3

The judge said the mistake made by most competitors was in giving gestures. The gestures did not help the piece, which should ba conceived in the mind's eve.

Shakespearean Recital. Gentlemen. The Rev. Jasper Calder, 72 points... 1 Mr. Hector Taylor, 70 points 2 The judge remarked that the piece, which was from Henry V., had not been very well clone. It called for a strong, intense note.

RECALLS THIS MORNING. Recalls this morning were made as follow:— Action Song. Boys or Girls under 16. Doreen Saunders (Wellington), David Lunny and Marjorie Taylor. Irish Ballad. Open. Miss McGruer, Miss Ina Thomson and Miss Lucy Cleveland. Classic or Eastern Dance. Under 15. Kathleen Boyle, Edna Tullett and Joy Simon. Recitation. Girls, 9 to 10. Betty Sword, Joan Moody and Merle Jenkins. Operatic Dance. Under 15. Elva Parr, Edna Tullett and Marjorie McLachlan.