The Movement Of Life

Southland Times, Issue 22074, 22 July 1933, Page 17

The Movement Of Life

“VMUCS BECAUSE YOU CAN’T HELP IT.”

A plea for a New Zealand dance form, expressive of and springing from the hearts of New Zealanders, was made by Miss Eileen Service last Saturday evening at the conclusion of an interesting and erudite address on The Dance, which was followed enthusiastically by some sixty or seventy Old Girls of the Southland Girls’ High School, and their friends. The reception room of the Southland Women’s Club, dimly lit, made a charming setting for such a subject, and huge branches of feathery'greenery enhanced the effect. Miss Service, in a frock of apple green ring velvet, was a pleasing lecturer and a very effective demonstrator, being responsible for what Mrs. A. J. Deaker (the president of the Old Girls’ Association) in calling for a vote of thanks, termed “one of the most memorable evenings in the history of the Association.”

Before tracing the probable evolution and the history of dancing, using a very broad canvas for her boundless subject, Miss Service said she thought it had been touching and charming of the Old Girls to ask her down to assist them to buy one of Rhona Haszard’s pictures for her old school, and she proceeded to tell them what she could of Rhona who had been her especial friend in her S. G. H. S. school years of 1915—1919—h0w vitally she had seemed to live during these war years in that “little safe place” where war did not penetrate and every moment had been precious and wonderfully significant. Drawing and acting had been Rhona's chief interest then, and many of her school-fellows numbered amongst their dearest possessions little signed drawings of that period. She had gone up to the Canterbury School of Art in 1920; but her affection, Miss Service said, was always firmly planted in Southland, and Southland soil, and very particularly in that “little safe place”, the Southland Girls’ High School. Right to the time of her death there had been happy references to these days in her letters. Referring to the fact that her husband, Mr. Leslie Greener, was at present in New Zealand holding exhibitions of her pictures, Miss Service said that it was the highest honour her husband could pay her, to bring her pictures to New Zealand and let those who loved her see her work.

During the course of her lecture Miss Service demonstrated the movements of a Grecian funeral dance, and also an early French minuet. Other demonstrations punctuating her discourse were given by the Misses Charlotte de Reya, Nancy Basstian, Jean Scandrett and Connie Chaplin. Miss Mary Gilbert acted as accompanist throughout.