ENGLISH BALLET

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26774, 18 May 1948, Page 8

ENGLISH BALLET

RETURN OF MAURICE COSTELO Special to the Daily Times OAMARU, May 17. Mr Maurice Wilton, professionally known as Maurice Costelo, who is an ex-pupil of the Waitaki Boys’ High School, has returned to his home town of Oamaru after spending more than ten years abroad. Before he left Oamaru in 1937 Mr Costelo was responsible for the production of “ Costelo Follies ” in the Opera House. Mr Costelo went to England, where he studied under Ninette de Valois, the creator of English ballet and director of the famous Sadlers Wells Ballet, in London, and the late Nicholas Leggatt. former director of the Imperial Russian Ballet in Moscow. He also studied under Brune Lleschi. a famous Spanish teacher who arranged the Spanish ballets for Ninette de Valois; Stanilaus Idzikowski, of the DiaghileiT Ballet, the original Russian ballet which left Russia to take the ballet to Europe and then to England; Egoveria, principal balleriria of the Imperial Theatre in Russia; Uday Shankar, in oriental dancing; and Buddy Bradley, who ar-

ranged tap-dancing for British productions ’and films. He appeared with Jessie Matthews in the British film, “ It's Love Again." He was closely associated with Serge Lif.ar, of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and Oriel Mileoss, director of the Scale Opera Ballet, Milan. Maurice Costelo told the Daily Times that in 1931 he was a member of the Ballet Rambert, which is at present touring New Zealand. Among” the famous dancers at that time were Mariova, principal of the Metropolitan Opera, New York; Anthony Tudor, director of American Ballet at the Centre Theatre, New York; Frederick Ashton, who had arranged many ballets for Sadlers Wells and one of the principal choreographers for Ninette de Valois; William Chappell, famous costume and scenic designer for the Sadlers Wells and Covent Garden; and Harold Turner, principal at Covent Garden. Of his own part in theatricals, Maurice Costelo recalled that while in England he was the .principal dancer in the following London productions: “Non-Stop Varieties’’ at the Prince of Wales; “ Revuedeville ’’ at the Windmill; “ Esdale Saville’s Anglo-Polish Ballet ” at The Garrick; “ Lisbon Story,’’ at the Hippodrome; “ Peeka-a----boo,” at the Whitehall, which ran for two years; “Bonjour, Paris,” at the Metropolitan; and “Rocky Mountain Rhythm,” at the Empire. In films he took part in “ Flight from Folly,” “ Trojan Brothers,” and “Variety.” and in the television programme, “ Cafe Continental” for the 8.8. C. During the war period he entertained troops m England, Egypt, and Palestine under Combined Services Entertainment. Since the end of the war he has appeared in Lisbon, Paris, Milan, Barcelona, and Brussels, and he returned to New Zealand via New York. The ballet in England had taken such a strong hold. Mr Costelo said, that one had to reserve seats for ballet performances at Covent Garden months ahead. Almost all the musical shows in London at the present time contained ballets on original ideas, and there was very little tap-dancing. This was also becoming evident in the films both in America and England, and the ballet was also very popular in Australia. He thought there was also talent in New Zealand if thoroughly trained, as was shown oy the success achieved by New Zealand dancers such as Bebe de Rowland and

Rowena Jackson, who had both done very well for themselves overseas.

He had come back to New Zealand. Mr Costelo said, with the hope of cultivating the art in character and ballet dancing in this country, with the idea of later forming a small company of his own. As Oamaru was his home town, he was settling there temporarily, but his intention is later to open a school in. one of the main centres.