High standard of dancing

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32892, 15 April 1972, Page 16

High standard of dancing

A remarkably high standard of performance was achieved by dancers of all age groups in the Christchurch Ballet and Dance Society’s annual production in the Civic Theatre last evening. The programme contained a wide variety of dances, including ballet, jazz, Latin American, Chinese, folk, and Highland; but all had in common a high quality of refinement and an impeccable standard of costume. The Spanish and Latin American dances were notable for their finesse, but equally attractive were the romantic dances, performed with sensitivity and feeling for rhythm. The ballet “Autumn Leaves” was a beautiful interpretation of falling leaves, and contrasted vividly with the sensual and arresting jazz dances performed by Maggie Burke’s group. These comprised a series of sinuous and jagged body movements. An item by the University of Canterbury entitled “Ballon d’Essai” was warmly received, and also featured a striking sequence of limb movements to a background of loud beat music.