LOCAL DANSEUSE

Southland Times, Issue 19772, 21 February 1923, Page 5

LOCAL DANSEUSE

MISS VYNER INTERVIEWED RUSSIAN INFLUENCE ON DANCING (Special to the Times). CHRISTCHURCH, February 2t>. "Generally speaking ballroom dancing in London has altered very little in the last two years.” This is the opinion of Miss Madeline Vyner, a well known Invercargill girl, who has recently returned to New Zealand from London, where she went two years ago to study ballet, character and Greek dancing. “One hears persistent rumours of the revival of the old fashioned waltz,” continued Miss Vyner, “but I saw no evidence of its return tn (rvour. Foxtrots, onesteps and the modern waits, which are all danced very smoothly, and perhaps a little more slowly lhan formerly, continue to be very popular. The Tango has not been revived to any extent.” Referring to dancing on the Eng’ish stage, Miss Vyner says that the influence of the Russian ballet is everywhere apparent and as exponents of ballet dancing there are none so accomplished as the Russian, who ha e a finish all their own. This is hardly surprising when one hears of the training formerly received by ballet dancers at :h" famous Russian Imperial Schoo! of Dancing. which has ceased to cxisc since he Bolshevik ru’e in Russia. Fupiis were admitted to the school at seven years of age. remaimng till they were seventeen, seeing their prrents for a short time once a ;. •ar and submitting to the most ri-pd d'Acijh I'ne. /I number of Hu sians trained to perfection in this Spartan manner, excellent linguists and accomplished and charming artists, are seeking engagements on the English stage. Th? pathetic plight of many Russian refugees at present in London may be gauged by the fact that in the “Sleeping Beauty” eight Russian officers and aristocrats, refugees from their Homeland, were glad to receive 32/- a week for “walking on” parte. The Russian influence is noticeable too in the better ci ass muse now used for dancing, in the scenic decorations and in the stage cixtumes. All have in a measure broken away from the more convention?.! Italian sty’.e, end triumphs of art : st:c art in .- a »-■' clothes and dr'ora •'...•••• h"v? been a i ed by the .worir 1 - a ■ ous d *er, L- .n s .

Hiss Vyner hc/sa.f s.udicd a .he tn ova school, the leadT.g school in London for the teaching of the Russian system of dancing. The Astafieva established her reputation as Cleopatra and Sherazade in the Imperial and Diaghileft ballets and amongst the pupils at her school are representatives of many nationalities, Russians, Spaniards, Hungarians, Swedes, French, English and New Zealanders. Notable amongst the last mentioned is Miss Thelma Rogers, of Wellington, who has done excellent work in the Pavlova Compa.y. Through the Astafieva's influence. Mis-? Vyner received an engagement in the Diaghileft ballet during the London seaion of “The Sleeping Beauty.” Later she toured England, doing solo work-with the V/alkowsky ballet and filled many engagements in solo work for the famous London Firm Star attractions.