Y.M.C.A. GYMNASTICS

Evening Star, Issue 20595, 22 September 1930, Page 3

Y.M.C.A. GYMNASTICS

SUCCESSFUL ANNUAL DISPLAY NOVELTY IN LATEST EFFORT Clean, wholesome, and occasionally strenuous exercise is a necessity for good health, and an exorcise which is very popular and fulfils all these requirements is gymnastics. Many young people to-day indulge in this exercise, which is one of the main sections of the work undertaken by the Y.M.C.A., a hotly that has done a great amount of good for the younger generation. Iho Y.M.C.A. continues its excellent service to the community from year to year without detailed information regarding its inner workings becoming known to the public, hut an event which gives every hotly a good chance of seeing what is being done on the physical side of the Triangle is the animal physical culture and gymnastic display. Jn the past, thousands of citizens have availed themselves of the opportunity of gaining an insight into the association’s work in connection with the health of the young people of this city by attending these displays. On Saturday evening, in the Y.M.C.A. gymnasium, Moray place, the 1930 gymnastic carnival was presented for tho first time, and the fine programme sot down for tho entertainment of tho public justly warranted tho large audience, which filled the gymnasium to its utmost capacity. Tho carnival, held under the supervision of the association’s physical director, Mr C. W. Postdate, was well up to the standard of previous pciTormances, and all connected with it are to he, highly congratulated on the success it proved to bo on its opening night. Two hundred and fifty strong and healthy girls and hoys and young men and women performed during the evening, and all went through their respective acts with surprising agility and accuracy, while all worked together in perfect harmony. Mr Post-gate is to he complimented on the fine training of the performers,' and also on the novelty ho introduced into the various evolutions and ensembles. The display provided two hours’ entertainment of a

high and unusual order, and the incidental music provided by four musicians under tho direction of Mrs W. Haggitt, added considerably to tho enjoyment of the performance. The inclusion of a couple of clowns in tho “east ” calls for some mention, as much amusement was derived from their clowning,.which gave a bright note to tho proceedings. 'L'he display opened with a parade of tho entire company, from tho oldest to the youngest member. Item No. 2 served a double purpose. Several members of tlm primary school boys’ class were seen in some rather complicated ropo climbing, while a number of small girls, under the ago of twelve years, wont through a series of turns and tumbles Thirty-two ladies then appeared in deportment exercises, which were followed by a juvenile “ daily dozen ” and a display of exercises on tho horse by thirty-six primary school boys. Tho twelve-year-old girls then showed that they could dance as well as do their exorcises, and their following item. it. which they used wooden dumbells, was well performed, and much appreciated by the audience. Nine seniors were se-.n in several exercises with dlb steel bars, and then came a fine series of evolutions on the parallel bars by ten business boys. Tho ladies’ class returned in an athletic- series, quite a novel display, which introduced tho movements used in archery, swimming, discus throwing, “on your marks,” shot putting, and baseball, all as physical culture exercises. Tho act concluded with a section of each rank posing one of tho series that had just been performed Tho first portion of tho programme concluded with three pyramids staged by High School boys. After the interval the seven leaders of tho institution appeared in a clever horizontal bat act, which was one of tho features of the evening. The performers wont through their various exorcises with wonderful case, and for their efforts they received unstinted applause. Eleven girls under fifteen years then revived tho well-known golden wand act, which was also pleasingly done. Gymnastic dancing and tableaux by tho ladies followed, and tho item concluded with a fine pyramid. Corrective exercises by tho Technical College boys’ class, numbering twenty-two, came next, and some of tho alternate exercises proven difficult even to tho youths who had evidently given them some practice. The illuminated club swinging was, perhaps, the most spectacular item during tho evening. Jn this act seven members of the ladies’ class were seen, and tin- green and orange lights at tho ends of tho clubs presented a pretty sight when tho clubs wore swung and the lights in tho gymnasium were extinguished Jwmgthy leaps over the horse by font seniors gave tbo spectators plenty ot thrills, and another very effective display was presented by tho ladies, this time with bamboo rods, which woiv tapped together, keeping time to the music Tho business hoys then came hack to give the audience a lew tips for exorcises to bo indulged in every morning, and if these wore performed at tho proscribed time everyone would probably loci much better pliysically. Tho finale was very well arranged, and tho entire company was included The older boys and girls stood right at tho hack, while tho youngsters camo forward and formed a triangle, representing the Y.M.C.A. badge. It was made oven more realistic by tho red dressed work by the girls. Nothing better could have been desired as a conclusion to tho display.

A second and final performance will bo presented this evening.