DANCE RECITAL

Southland Times, Issue 20939, 23 November 1929, Page 8

DANCE RECITAL

EURYTHMICS AND 'INTERPRETATION. VIGOROUS YOUNG PEOPLE. Last evening a very enthusiastic audience attended the Municipal Theatre to witness the demonstration of dancing and body movements by the pupils of Mrs H. A. Macdonald and Miss Charlotte de Reya, which to many of those present came as a complete surprise as a variation of the usual order of dance recitals. The first half was devoted to Mrs Macdonald’s pupils, when, following the orchestral overture, fourteen little maids presented the original ballet, “In Milady’s Chamber,” in which each article of milady’s toilet table introduced itself in characteristic solo after which it stepped back to its place in.the group. The appearance of a tiny tot of three years as a feather duster caused much enjoyment, her heart and soul participation in the proceedings having in it much to commend. The characters (in order of appearance) were: Telephone Doll (B. Johnson), Feather Duster (N. Polkinghorne), Mirror and Powder Puff (E. Skerrett, B. Semmens), Brush and Comb (M. Forde), Rose Soap and Bubble (W. Pennington), Candlesticks (F. Adams, P. Berry), Handkerchief ‘Sachet (D. Leete), Scent-bottle (A. Stone), Hatbox (J. Lamont), Pincushion (P. Forde), French Maid (D. Siddall), Milady (C. Chaplin). A number of the younger children took part in the musical game of Bopeep and her Sheep, with R. Lange as Bopeep, J. Mason as Boy Blue, and M. McLauchlan, A. Stone, J. Beery, P. Beery, N. Polkinghorn, H. Turner, F. Adams, M. Campbell, J. Ford, M. Ford and B. Kimble as the sheep, one of whom sang the story while the others played it. One of the brightest items was the song and dance duo “Dolly and Polly” by B. Johnson and J. Lamont. .The other items were: Song, Miss A. Crowther; Danse Militaire, M. Myers; Duo, (Stolen Goods), E. Skerrett and B. Semmens; Nautch Dance, D. Siddall; The Jockeys, W. Pennington, B. Semmens, J. Lamont and E. Skerrett; Duo (The Dream Moth), C. Chaplin, and D. Siddall; Song (Mischievous Brownies), C. Russell; Danse Acrobatique, B. Semmens and W. Pennington; Greek Dance, C. Chaplin with J. Scandrett, M. Myers, E. Johnstone, D. Willett, E. Marshall and P. Forde as the chorus; Argentine Tango, D. Siddall and J. Green; Moment Musical, R. Lange; Black and White, J. Scandrett, M. Myers, C. Chaplin, D. Willett, D. Siddall and .E. Marshall; Song (Flower Frocks), A. Stone; Garden Dance, J. Fenn and a final song (The Lotus) by M. Harvey with the following dancers, D. Siddall, J. Scandrett, C. Chaplin, B. Manson, E. Marshall, P. Forde, E. Johnstone, M. Myers and D. Willett. The frocking throughout was particularly attractive both in variety and design. The second half of the programme presented an entertainment unique in Invercargill, when Miss de Reya’s pupils demonstrated her work in eurythmics principally, as well as in character and folk dancing and plastic movements. The entire exhibition was a harmonious blending of grace and rhythm, and the simple Nereid costuming was effective for this work. Opening with an exhibition of Swedish drill hy the Dominican Convent senior class, in which unanimity of movement contributed to the fine effect of controlled exercise, the programme continued with tiny tots from the Convent in a folk dance in which they obviously enjoyed themselves and the freedom they were exhibiting. The next item was an impressive display of Grecian and Oriental plastic movements by pupils of the Southland Girls’ High School. “The Senorita’s Dream” was a song scena with Miss Phyllis Cunliffe as the vocalist in mantilla and flounced gown. Eight Spanish youths and maidens were the dancing figures of, her dream. Six girls of the intermediate division contributed a pierrot dance, after which three pupils of the S.G.H.S. gave a demonstration of duplex drill. The spiriteel cachucka followed, danced by E. Mclnnes and R. Double. The most effective item of the evening followed in the graceful Drifting episode. In this the suppleness and grace of the pupils was particularly evident, as it also was in the Moonlight Fantasy, in which F. Munro did the solo work. The final item was a general eurythmic demonstration by both senior and junior divisions, in which the work of the teacher was seen to good effect.