N.Z. Dancer Has Good Reception In Rumania

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29067, 2 December 1959, Page 11

N.Z. Dancer Has Good Reception In Rumania

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

(Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, December 1

The intensity of interest in ballet in Bucharest surprised both Bryan Ashbridge, of Auckland, and Beryl Grey, one of Britain’s leading ballerinas, during a recent visit as guest artists of the Rumanian State Ballet Company.' They were told that at least 500 persons had to be turned away from the 2000 capacity opera house where they performed “Swan Lake,” which lasted four hours. One of their two recitals of three hours was televised and filmed. Western audiences would probably have been bored by performances of this length, but the Rumanians expected them and took them as a matter of course.

Mr Ashbridge and Miss Grey were the first British dancers to appear in Rumania and while Miss Grey has danced with the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, Mr Ashbridge was apparently the first British male dancer to perform in an Iron Curtain country. They were invited by the Ministry of Culture through the Rumanian Embassy in London and not by a Rumanian company and, as they discovered later, they were regarded with some initial reserve.

While the Ilyushin aircraft was floodlit when they arrived and Cabinet Ministers and the entire company were there to greet them under the eye of television cameras, there was politeness rather than enthusiasm during the first rehearsals.

Long Rehearsals Mr Ashbridge and Miss Grey had never danced the full length “Swan Lake” together and they found the Rumanian conception entirely different from that at Covent Garden—more music, different entrances and exits and so on. They rehearsed with the company for two days, one day beginning at 10.30 a.m. and. with

a break of three hours, ending at 10.30 p.m. For the most part Jhey walked through their steps. They worked at performance pitch for the first time during the dress rehearsal and as the Minister of Culture told them later, an unheard of thing occurred for the first time—a Rumanian company applauded guest artists at a rehearsal. This had never happened before. From then on-, enthusiasm replaced politeness. The morning after the performance, the Rumanian press, which they were 'told, has the reputation of being tough on visiting artists, gave “rave” reviews. It was impressed by Miss Grey’s warm personality, her strength, technique and ease. It also described Mr Ashbridge as a sensitive noble Prince and commented on the height of his leaps and jumps. But it was impressed most of all by the high standard of Western ballet and the acting ability of the visitors. Apparently the Rumanians, well versed in Russian techniques and with a high standard

of their own, had regarded Western ballet, if not as immature, then certainly as young and lacking tradition.

There were packed audiences for their two recitals when they danced excerpts from various ballets and they were invited to remain and give two more performances of “Swan Lake.” They had, however, to return to London to keep other engagements. There were a number of receptions and dinner parties given by the Rumanian-Ministry of Culture and the British Embassy at which it seemed British officials were meeting various Rumanian Ministers for the first time. When Mr Ashbridge and Miss Grey and her husband, Dr. Svenson, a Swedish orthopaedic surgeon, took off in the Ilyushin on the return flight through Brussels, they, were loaded with flowers and presents as they went aboard. South African Tour

The two dancers are shortly to appear for the first time together on Independent Television and they will be the leading couple when the Royal Ballet Company tours South Africa early next year. Miss Grey is already an international star and the New Zealander is fast becoming one. Miss Grey said of Mr Ashbridge: “I was amazed how good a partner he is. I had danced with him before at rehearsals, but a full-length role is different. He was marvellous in Bucharest and I think when we have had more time to practise together we should make a good team.”