FINE DISPLAY GIVEN BY DANCING PUPILS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19247, 8 December 1930, Page 5

FINE DISPLAY GIVEN BY DANCING PUPILS.

, -V display of dancing- and dramatic art | "'as given at the Radiant Hall on Saturday evening- by Miss Iris Montgomery and her pupils, assisted by Miss Cowan land her pupils and members of the All ! Arts Club. A note of pleasing gaiety i was maintained all through he evening and the large audience showed unmistakable appreciation of almost every item. On several occasions there were insistent demands for encores, but the length of the programme made it difflcult to repeat any numbers. The performances of all those pupils who took part were a high tribute to the work of the two principals. The value of dancing instruction to girls is considerable, for it lays the foundation for a grace and poise that will persist through life. This was very apparent in the dancing numbers; even the tiniest of the performers showed that they had progressed a long way towards the elimination of ungainly movements in anything they did. Dancing is associated with some of the most beautiful music that the great masters have written, and the orchestra, under Miss Nancy Hume, carried out its share of the entertainment with credit. The dramatic section of the recital was also well done, especially the one-act play by members of the All Arts Club and the burlesque, “L(e)ake Coleridge,” written and produced by Miss Cowan with pt&rils and All Arts Club members. The Polish festival scene, which opened the programme, was a good sample of the dancing section. Miss Montgomery gave the “Dance of the Grand Jluzzar,” for which she received much applause. The whole scene was in Russian costume. The troupe of little girls who appeared in it were specially popular with the audience,, their dainty stepping and occasional little mistakes being alike delightful. Joy Dean, a very tiny tot. in her little costume of pale pink satin, danced the “Piper of Dreams.” “Firelight,” by Misses M. Wallwork, T. Tovvart, X. Yates, V. Haigh and R. Bisman, was one of the most beautiful and effective dances on the programme. Miss Montgomery’s solo dance, '* Valse de Fantasie,” was also delightful, but the insistent demand for an encore was in vein. A toe dance, “White Bird,” was interpreted by Miss Elsa Whitta. The outstanding item in the second half of the recital was a pretty little dancing play, “A Chinese Fairy Tale.” The costumes of the young performers and the setting were most effective. Those who took part were Ninnon Pope (Tattle Girl), Peggy Claxton (Little Boy), Trixie Morten (Little Girl who gets lost), Dawn Larson, April Hargreaves and Patlene Sheffield (Wandering Musicians). The one-act play, “A Cup of Tea,” was presented very creditably by the following cast:—Wilfort AVenda.ll (a poet). Miss Xell Gillespie: Azalea (lady of artistic yearnings). Miss Elsie Rutter: John (her husband), Mr Elmsley Williams. Miss Gillespie, who liad the principal part, was very good. Several vocal numbers were included. Mr Charles Ashford and ballet gave a pleasing rendering of “With You and My Guitar.” Mr Ashford and Miss A’iola Haigh were together in “Aloha-oe.” Other items on the programme were ns follows: —“Christmas,” arranged and produced by Miss Lucy Cowan with juvenile pupils; “Spring,” Isobel Towart: "Pas de Quatre,” Xinnon Poj»e, Peggy Claxton, Trixie Morten, April Hargreaves; “The Fairy Gardener,” Dawn Larson; “Gobling Blues,” Miss Clarice Greene and Children's Ballet; “Pas Soule,” April Hargreaves; "Pas de Trois,” Misses Iris Montgomery. Elsa Whitta and Isobel Towart; “Golden Moon of India,” Margot Wall work; “Dawn in a New World,” Misses A. Hargreaves, X. Pope, T. Morten, P. Claxton, I*. Sheffield: “Danse de Pretresse ” (from the “Romance of a Mummy”), Miss Ti’is Montgomery; Xovelty Tap Dance, Miss Iris Montgomery; “A Xight in Seville.” Sevillianos, Misses M. AVallwork, V. Haig, E. AVhitta. I. Towart. X. by Elsa Brunilleschi), Miss Tris Montgomery: song (Grenadinas), Miss Adelo Wellard King; .lota. Miss Isobel Towart: Zapateado, Misses Xoaloen Yates and Maurice Wilton.