AFTERNOON RECEPTION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 127, 22 February 1939, Page 4

AFTERNOON RECEPTION

Members Of Russian Ballet At Travel Club Ballet appealed most today to English and American audiences, said Mr. Victor Dandre at a Wellington Travel Club reception yesterday. Mr. Dandre is chairman and director of the Covent Garden Russian Ballet at present, in Wellington, and the afternoon was in honour of some of the principal members of the company. “You probably do not realize what the life of a ballerina means.’’ he added when explaining that a rehearsal had prevented some from attending. The ballet which the company was rehearsing would be seen in London in June. Every morning, at 9 o’clock members of the ballet assembled for an hour or an hour and a half’s practice. After lunch they worked till about 5 o clock, and it was necessary for them to be back at the theatre early in the evening for the nightly performance. The guests of honour and other special visitors were welcomed by the chairman, Mr. G. G. Stewart. It was appropriate, he said, that the Russian ballet should be in Wellington during National Fitness Week, for it demonstrated admirably the physical perfection d-imnuded by an exacting art. Ballet, was of ancient origin and during the reigus of the later kings of France the monarch himself took part in performances as a gesture to the popularity of dancing. Miss Amy Kane, chairman of the women’s committee of the Travel Club, added a tribute to the art of dancing. There was a great tradition behind tlie ballet, and the present company was carrying it on in the best manner. “I am a confessed ‘balletomane,’ ” Mr. O. N. Gillespie said in welcoming the guests. Ballet dancing had been defined as “making music visible through the heart of human grace and motion and through decor.” It was something which required a high tyjrt of self-surrender and he felt that in New Zealand, with a fine literary and rrrt tradition behind it, the visiting artists would have an enjoyable sojourn and their work would be highly appreciated.

Mr. Antal Dorati and Mr. Jan Hoyer spoke on behalf of the company. Mrs. 11. D. Bennett, a member of the club executive, welcomed the guests on behalf of the Maori race. This was followed by ir traditional welcome and poi dance given by a quartet of Maori women from the Otaki ’Maori Party. Miss Tahiwi accompanied the singers and gave a Maori song. Mrs. W. Duncan also song, accompanied by Miss D. Spinks. Other visitors were Miss Helen Macdonald. new physical director of the Wellington Y.W.C.A., who spoke briefly about her work, Miss C. Wood (England), Mrs. B. Curtis (Canterbury Travel Club), Mrs. A. Scott (Auckland), Madame Valeska (Auckland), Mrs. Rowland (Hawke’s Bay), Mrs. Pike (Auckland), .Mrs. Ben Fuller (.Sydney), Mrs. R. N. Kerr (Nelson), Mrs. Gillies (Sydney), Mrs. Percy Gray (New Plvmouth), Miss Clark (New Plymouth), Mrs. Henderson (New Plymouth), Mr. ami Mrs. Steeds (Christchurch), Mrs. Kert (Auckland), Mr. and Mrs. R. Blackburn, Miss Payne (Napier), Miss Amo Bennett. The hostesses included: Miss Amy Kane, Mrs. Vernon Sutherland, Mrs. Walter Gray, Mrs. E. It. Myers, Mrs. C. Bott, Miss N. E. Donovan (secretary).

Fltrnie gladioli decorated the tables in the Majestic lounge, where the reception was Jield, and lemon and coral gladioli in tall spikes were massed in the foyer. Afternoon tea was served.