MODERN BALLET AT FASHION SHOW

Press, Volume C, Issue 29623, 20 September 1961, Page 2

MODERN BALLET AT FASHION SHOW

Fourteen young women performing a modern ballet of their own creation will be a leading attraction in the combined variety programme and spring fashion showing at Canterbury Court, Addington Show Grounds, this evening. Canterbury students are joining with a Christchurch firm to provide a bright, fastmoving two hours of entertainment. The proceeds will go to swell the fund for the new Student Union building to be erected on the Ham site. Taking the theme “Caribbean” and using the eha cha for accompaniment, the girls’ dancing tells the story of West Indian workers returning from the day's work and celebrating in a dance that rapidly becomes a dance-step competition. The girls are part of the modern ballet group which has been working at the university this year under the

direction of Mrs C. Bassett Creative dancing is earning a place as part of the extensive physical education programme available at the university. This will be the first time the group have performed in public.

Music for the variety programme is being provided by the “Downbeats” dance band under their student leader John Foster. The university's music department will provide a string trio. A mimed satire will be presented by Margaret Gorton and Jim Laurenson, both of whom have played leading roles in university stage productions this year including the part of Cupid by Margaret Gorton in John Blow’s opera. “Venus and Adonis," and Warwick by Mr Lauren-’ son in the University Drama Society production “The Lark.”

From Rolleston House, one of the student hostels, will be a new “Kingston Trio" guitar group.