LA MERI THE DANCER

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 254, 23 July 1936, Page 3

LA MERI THE DANCER

New Zealand Premiere at Grand Opera House This Evening La Meri, the celebrated Spanish American dancer who is on her first visit to New Zealand, will make her first appearance in Wellington at the Grand Opera House to-night, under the direction of Mr. A. D. M. Lougden. The programme will include many of Mme. La Meri’s most celebrated dances, among which will bo “The White Peacock,” which was inspired by the strutting aud dancing of the peacocks in the garden of the late General Gomez, President of the Republic of Nicaragua. “Humoresque,’’ to the music of Dvorak, will be a comic dance performed with masks, while “Caprice Viennoise” (moi-, by Kreisler) and “Nocturne,” to Chopin's famous piano music, will reveal La Meri’s art as an interpretative dancer. A group of four Spanish dances will inelude “Asturiana,” an amusing peasant dance, “Bolero,” to Ravels famous composition, “Vide Breve,” an Andalusian castanet dance to the music of Manuel de Falla, and the “Antique Bolero.” a Spanish dance combining the steps of the traditional ballet. The geisha “Dance of Spring,' a Chinese impression dance, “The Empress of the I’agoda,” danced in a superb Chinese costume, and a Hindu dance from Northern India will comprise the Oriental dance group. Another feature will be the “Jarabc Tapatio,” the traditional dance of Mexico, in which La Meri dances round the wide brim of her sombrero hat. Signorina Laura Mollica will assist, in some of the dances. Each dance on the programme will be performed in a different costume. Piano solos by Mario Salerno, the brilliant young pianist from Rome, and trio numbers by the instrumental trio will complete the programme. The entire presentation will be exactly as in London, Paris and Vienna. The Wellington season of Mme. La Meri will close next Wednesday night. Matinees will be held on Saturday and Wednesday afternoons.