News For Women RARE JEWELS WORN BY DANCER-MOTHER

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28267, 3 May 1957, Page 2

News For Women RARE JEWELS WORN BY DANCER-MOTHER

Not many nine-year-old girls are bidden farewell at a party by a mother who possesses among other costly souvenirs of her tours a bracelet of beaten gold given to her by a member of the Shah of Persia’s family. Marie Christine Pratt’s mother (Miss Katherine Dunham) has other jewels even more valuable to remind her of the many countries in which the company of dancers, singers and musicians has toured.

One of these jewels is a 25 carat pear-shaped topaz of the rare smoky variety so much sought after by collectors. Miss Dunham wears it hanging from a thick bracelet set with other large Brazilian topazes and zircons. A 28 carat Colombian emerald is only one of many of these precious stones owned and worn by Miss Dunham during the show which is being presented in Christchurch. After each performance these jewels are locked away. Party at Theatre Wearing a gown by Mascetti of Rome, which featured the introduction of the harem skirt, Miss Dunham was hostess on Wednesday night to a number of specially invited guests, and the performers and staff of the company, at a party given after the show in the dress circle lounge of the Theatre Royal. The chief guest of the evening was Miss Pratt, who wore a frock of white broidered muslin, and wore her hair in a high pigtail. She will leave New Zealand today on the Orcades, to join her father in Haiti, where she will go to school for a period. She

will then continue her journey to her permanent school in Switzerland, from which she has been absent for a year. Her guardian on this journey will be Miss Karin Schandl, of Germany, who was a nurse in a Melbourne hospital when Miss Dunham chose her. It is her wish that her daughter should keep up with her German, which is one of the seven languages she is learning to speak.

Although Mr Pratt has returned to the family home in Haiti, Miss Pratt has not yet seen the house. It is set in lovely grounds, and is often used as a rest home by members of the company. The company'has been touring now for about 20 years, im more than 30 different countries. Guests

Among the specially invited guests at the party were the Misses Whetu and Rima Tirikatene, daughters of Mr E. T. Tirikatene, member of Parliament for Southern Maori, and the former West Indies cricketer, Mr S. C. Guillen, who has lived in New Zealand now for four years. Items were given by Miss Dunham and Mr Lenwood Morris, the company’s ballet master (dances), Mr Guillen (calypso solos), and dances and musical items by various other members of the company.

After the singing of Auld Lang Syne by the company and guests. Miss Pratt said goodbye to friends and guests. The lounge was decorated in autumn berries, corn and yellow and bronze chrysanthemums, gift bouquets from members of the show audience.