BALLET SUCCESS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26659, 3 January 1948, Page 4

BALLET SUCCESS

NEW ZEALANDER INLONDON HELP OF SCHOLARSHIP By Harvey Blanks, Special Representative. LONDON, Dec. 19. One of the outstanding successes of the 1947 season of the Sadler’s Wells Ballet Company at Covent Garden has been won by a young New Zealand dancer, Alexander Grant, of Wellington. Aged 22, Mr Grant, who is the son of Mr and Mrs A. Grant, of Basin Reserve, Wellington, was brought to England in February,

1946, to develop his talent under a scholarship granted by the Royal Academy of Dancing—an organisation which has proved itself the ‘‘fairy godmother ” of all aspiring young dancers in the dominions.

One scholarship is awarded every two years by the academy to a New Zealand student. The first winner was Rowena Jackson, of Auckland, who also is under contract to Sadler’s Wells. Alexander Grant was the second sucesSfUl applicant, and the third, Yvonne Cartier, of Auckland, is due in England early in the New Year.

The academy pays a scholarship of £2OO a year, and arranges accommodation for dominion students in London. Other scholarships are awarded to Australia, South Africa, and Canada. When Alexander Grant arrived in England, the academy arranged for him to receive tuition with the Sadler's Wells Company. Six month' later, the company engaged him professionally for a small part in “ The Sleeping Princess,” and shortly afterward he went on a provincial tour with them.

Under the auspices of the British Council, the Sadler’s Wells Company was sent this year to Brussels, Prague, Warsaw, Posnan, Malmo and Oslo, and Mr Grant was a member

Since his return, he has scored a great success at Covent Garden with a leading role in the ballet “ Mamzelle Angot,” for which he was trained by the famous Massine. The touch of the master is obvious. Critics have acclaimed his performance and noted him as a young man to be watched closely. Alexander Grant has a big future in ballet in Britain, but nevertheless would like to revisit New Zealand if the opportunity offers. However, it is unlikely that he will return to New Zealand for any lengthy period of time for many years to come. Like others who have found success abroad in the various arts, he feels that there is little scope in the Dominion because of its small population and limited interest. “If I were to return to New Zealand in the next year or two,” he told me, “ I could find no way of earning a living in my profession except by teaching. I should not mind doing that when I am much older, but at present 1 feel it would be a waste of the opportunity the Royal Academy has granted me if I did not continue with Sadler's Wells and develop myself to the limit of my capability.”