TRAINING FROM INFANCY

Southland Times, Issue 23336, 21 October 1937, Page 6

TRAINING FROM INFANCY

GIRLS OF DARMORA TROUPE APPRECIATION OF MUSIC IN HUNGARY Dancing their way through the world, the girls of the Darmora troupe with the Montague Show have been under Madame Darmora’s tuition from the age of four years, and it is only after years of careful practice in thenhome city of Budapest that they have gained such a thorough and comprehensive mastery of their art. Several well-known film stars owe their knowledge of dancing to Madame Darmora, and Lillian Harvey, the petite German actress and Steffi Duna were among her pupils. “Hungary ” said Madame in an interview with The Southland Times, “is the home of art; dancing is in our blood—dancing and ' music, and nowhere in the world will you get more critical audiences. The people of Budapest understand music, and when Caruso sang there 35 years ago he was troubled with his throat affliction, and the people did not like him. Never again he came to Budapest, and he said that the people there did not understand his singing. But in his memoirs published after his death he generously admitted that on the occasion the people did understand.” Madame Darmora added that Galli Curci also was not a favourite in Hungary. Benjamino Gigli was regarded as the greatest singer in the world today. Madame Darmora spoke appreciatively of the New Zealand audiences, saying that they were very like those of England, and the English people were their best criticis outside of Hungary “Our girls do not smoke,” she said “nor do they drink. They have simple pleasures in their leisure time, and often spend an afternoon at the pictures. They are all busily occupied in learning English, and speak it very well. They also speak German.” Maori singing and dancing in New Zealand made a profound impression on the whole troupe, who noted a distinct resemblance to the Russian style of harmonizing. “Maybe I will succeed in arranging a Maori dance for European audiences,” Madame Darmora said, “and I have got some of those little balls they twirl in their hands.”