TV Could Get Fathers Interested In Ballet

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31763, 21 August 1968, Page 3

TV Could Get Fathers Interested In Ballet

Although television was introducing ballet to many New Zealand men, Mrs Nancy AlgarRowe, of Tauranga, would like to see them “captured” even further.

*1 hope, some day, a television series will be done in New Zealand on ballet for beginners,” she said in Christchurch yesterday. “This type of programme was shown In England some years ago and It was most enlightening, particularly for fathers of daughters. It explained what ballet was all about, right from the first steps. Fathers became much more interested in it—and keener to let their young daughters learn.” Ballet, she believes, makes a valuable contribution to the education of the young, whether or not a child intended to take up dancing as a career.

“Ballet develops a child physically and mentally, and widens its knowledge of music, mime and deportment,” she said. Mrs Algar-Rowe, an examiner for the Royal Academy of Dancing, is in Christchurch to hold a junior ballet school for 115 primary and lower grade pupils. The open school was organised by Mrs Juanita Venter to meet a demand from younger dancers and their teachers. Proceeds, after expenses have been met, will go to the Crippled Children’s Society. “These children will soon be taking their examinations and I want to give them con-

fidence and help them to look forward to the day, rather than fear it,” she said. A teacher herself, Mrs Algar-Rowe feels that six years is young enough to take up dancing for examinations.

“I prefer my own pupils to have had at least two terms at school before they begin learning ballet Starting school takes at lot of adjustment for a child and is quite tiring. After about a year at school a child settles down and is ready to learn dancing."

Bom in England, Mrs Algar-Rowe came, to New Zealand about 11 years ago. She was a soloist in the AngloPolish Ballet and the Metropolitan Ballet In England and travelled extensively as a dancer. She has danced in the same companies as Svetlana. Beriosova, Eric Bruhn, Leonide Massine, Alexandra Danilova and Celia Franca, now director of the National Ballet, Canada.

The photograph" shows Mrs Algar-Rowe with a group of pupils during a discussion on period costumes. From left: Alison Pond, Tomascita Edgerton, Mrs Algar-Rowe, Mary Connelly and Elra Childs. Standing: Diane Conder (left) and Alison Lister.