Ballet Progress In Standard, Numbers

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30529, 26 August 1964, Page 2

Ballet Progress In Standard, Numbers

“Ballet has progressed in both standard and numbers since I was here four years ago,” Mrs Vera Lacey said in Christchurch yesterday. Mrs Lacey, who is the director of the British Ballet Organisation and National Dancing Association, Australasia, and the Australasian representative of the British Ballet Organisatio’n, London, has been conducting examinations throughout New Zealand for the past 11 weeks. Impressed By Group She has been particularly impressed by the progress made by the South Island Ballet Group, which is based in Christchurch, under dlrector-

shipof Mrs Mavis Perfect ‘They have really struggled and worked hard, and are dofantastic job,” Mrs Lacey The. group is at present producing the three-act ballet “Sleeping Beauty,” and will open Its Christchurch season with a performance in aid of the Riccarton branch of the Plunket Society, in the Riccarton Town Hall, on September 12.

During her examination work she had seen some “very nice material” among young dancers, but had not had sufficient time to get to know the girls, and determine whether they had the brain and temperament for a ballet career. 'This is much more necessary than build and dancing ability,” she said. Mrs Lacey felt it was a pity there was not more interchange of artists and ideas between the ballet groups of Australia and New Zealand. “I had thought there was going to be: it would be a very good thing, and help both sides. More new ballets would create more interest, she said. "Australian ballet has a wonderful person in Peggy van Praagh. She has a tremendous amount of work. T am not only a plugger for ballet I love all dancing if it is well done. “Actually, there is so little work in New Zealand and Australia for * ballet dancer, that if a girl wants the theatre to be her life, she must be versatile and able to do other kinds of dancing, to find a place." In Australia there was a great deal of interest in modern ballet. “The West Side Story” kind of work is terrifically popular at the moment.” Movements in modern ballet were more exaggerated. “Some I don’t like. But it is a very strong work, especially for male dancers. It is giving a lift to dancing,” she said.