COMPETITIONS JUDGE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 141, 16 May 1936, Page 12

COMPETITIONS JUDGE.

MISS D. KNIGHT IMPRESSED

DANCING HIGHLY PRAISED

Miss Daphne Knight, of Auckland, who has been adjudicating in the dancing classes of the Manawatu Competitions Festival, made some very encouraging remarks on the subject when interviewed yesterday by a “Standard” reporter. A particularly high standard had been attained, said Miss Knight, and the improvement since she adjudicated in Palmerston North six years ago was nothing short of remarkable. She also praiped the costuming in all branches of dancing, particularly in the operatic section, in which special merit was shown. The ballet work was worthy of any professional stage, she said. The work of the children from five to 10 years of age had displayed marked ability and ca.reful tuition. One interesting feature was the excellent choice of music in most dances. Miss Knight declared enthusiastically that she doubted if better dancing could be seen anywhere else in New Zealand, speaking of the dancing as a whole. Miss Knight continued to make some helpful remarks of interest to performers. She said she would like to advise young dancers to shorten their dances, as many of them had been too long. It was not necessary to make dances any longer than a. period of two and a-lialf minutes lor competitions. Speaking of the character story dances, the judge said that many comjietitors had made the mistake of bringing properties on to the stage. One should tell the story by mime. Mime was interesting the world at present, and dancers particularly needed to cultivate this art. No dance, no matter how technically perfect, could be pleasing to the audience unless the performer herself really lived the character she wished to portray. Every dancer must now realise that technique was the first thing to be studied. Expression, interpretation and rhythm would follow. In many cases the competitors had shown that they were studying ivotli the operatic and Greek technique, revealing that the teachers were capable exponents. “There is now no reason why every child cannot eventually have as good a training in New Zealand as could I>3 obtained in big cities anywhere else in the world,” said Miss Knight in conclusion.