THE CONVENT BALL

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3303, 30 May 1931, Page 5

THE CONVENT BALL

CHILDREN IN FANCY COSTUME. A SPECTACULAR FUNCTION. Once again the annual fancy-dress ball for the children of St. Joseph's Convent, held at the Town Hall last evening, proved decidedly .successful, in every respect. There was a

large attendance.of patrons, the child- ', Ven were beautifully and quaintly atthey danced gracefully, and the •'• music was splendid. Soon after 7.30 p.m. the doors from the ante-room were opened and in trooped a procession of scores of children, led by two little maids in pierrette costume, Misses Dorrie O'Connor and Mamie Chillingworth. The Grand March was then carried through under the direction of Mr Cyril Linehan, who '». made a very efficient M.C. throughout the evening, and incidentally came in for well-merited applause when the promoters were being congratulated by the Mayor. The music for the children's dances and the march was provided by Miss P. North (piano) and Mr R. Annibal (violin), while for the adults later in the evening Patterson's Syncopators were on duty, with extras contributed by Messrs N. Winch and J. Papesch (a duet), and Mr A. Morris. After the Grand March, in all its ramifications, had been executed in splendid style, parties of the.scholars took part in several special dances. Eight double sets of seniors danced the lancers, two score or a more of others presented a very pretty and graceful folk dance, the juniors displayed the result of their training in an Irish reel, and then followed a valeta dance gracefully done. Another folk dance, with " Gathering Feascods" as the theme, was next presented by forty children in attractive style. A heelandtoe polka, by 23 couples, and a schottische by twelve couples, were next carried out in good style, and the series of specialities closed with a quaintly graceful hesitation waltz. Much interest was shown in the presentation of prizes, it being realised by all present that the judges must have had a big task in making their decisions, so "many and beautiful were the costumes; but when the awards were made they met with very warm approval. His Worship the Mayor, in making the announcements, took the opportunity to congratulate the Sisters of the Convent and all who had worked so hard and patiently to present such a happy entertainment. Each year the Convent ball seems better than its predecessor. He had. been especially pleased with the grace and deportment of the dancers, and he complimented the Sisters upon featuring those accomplishments among the children. In these days of jazz, said Mr Downes, grace and deportment are often sadly lacking on the dance floor. The old-time dances had been much enjoyed by the onlookers, and the way the juveniles performed was distinctly creditable, alike to themselves and to their mentors. He concluded by voicing the congratulations of the spectators to the Convent Sisters, Miss North, Mr and Mrs O'Brien, and then announced the prizewinners as under: — Most novel costume, Maurice Pryor, "Maori Wahine"; prettiest dresses, Marjorie Pascoe, " Sunrise," and Creina McGovern, "Spanish Lady"; best-dressed boy, Tony Bevin, "Rajah," and John Sizemore, "Wooden Soldier "; special prize, Ernie Prince, •" Rajah"; most original, Walter Ryan, "Spanish Pirate," and Marie Fama, " Costermonger "; best couples, Murielle Hawkins and Joan McGovern, "Shamrocks," and Ray Pryor and An- , nie Fitzell, " Darby and Joan' ; also Martin Ryan and Mary McVerry, Red Indians." Special prizes were awarded to the following: Best dancer, Creina McGovern, "Spanish Lady ; Margaret Prince, " Early Victorian ; Wallace Campbell, "Yellowbird Tobacco"; Baby Horan, "Bedtime ; Marie O'Brien, "80-Peep"; Doreen Bishop, "Balloon Pierrette"; Henry Goldfinch, " Hector Gray, N.Z. Champion Jockey "; Will McGovern, Supremacy"; George Crotty, "Nigger ; Patty Gee, "One Live Ghost." When the presentation of prizes had been completed the children vociferously cheered the Sisters of the Convent, the musicians, the judges (Mesdames C.,G. Downes, C. F. Storey, and G. S. Clarke), the M.C, and the Mayor. At about 9.40 the children were entertained to supper, and the adults were given charge of the floor, dancing continuing until about 1 a.m. Following is an almost complete list of the costumes worn: — Girls: Mary Annibal, Gleaner; Dorrie O'Connor, Black and White Pierrette; Mamie Chillingworth, Black and White Pierrette; Aureen Annibal, Spanish Dancer; Ruth O'Connor, Oriental Dancer; Zeta Spiers, Fairy Sunshine; Marjorie Pascoe, The Sun; Margaret Turney, Wisteria; Mary McVerry Indian Squaw; Kathleen Prince Wisteria; Carmen Garside, Chinese Lady; Creina; McGovern, Spanish Lady; Pattie Kerr,. Early Victorian; Martha Smith, Spring; Annie Fitzell, Joan; Elsie Hilliard Gipsy Maid; Helen Corden, Queen of Hearts; Bettv O'Connor, Pierrette; Kathleen Ryan, Folly; Marie Fama, Costermonger; Mary Campbell, Turkish Lady; Imelda McGovern, Pierrette; Kitty Quinn, Piferrette; Mary Crotty, Dutch Girl;' J&ephine Fitzgerald, Spanish Girl- Beryl Gee, Indian Ink; Margaret Prince, Early Victorian; Amy Quinn, Ballet Dancer; Joy Bevin, Irish Colleen; Jean Corden, Daffiodil; Patricia Gee, One Live Ghost; Marie O'Brien Bo Peep; June Sizemore, White Star; Hilda Goldfinch, Parcel Post; Joyce Campbell, Gipsy; Margaret Kerr, Good Night; Rosaleen O'Brien, lairy Snow; Baby Hor'^T?PHtime- Norma Armitage, Pink • Rose Carmel Annibal, Fluffy Ruffles; Yolande Pryor, Columbine; gory, Pierrette; Joan McGovern ana ißelle Hawkins, Shamrocks Doxeen Bishop,, Baloon Mary Ballantyne, Black and White rier fetteTErin McCrory, Princess of the Harem; Jessie Shaw Harem Lady, Marie Hawkins, Wisteria; Molhe Me Crory, Summer; Ursula McCroiy, ; Tiptoe Dancer. IndianBoys: Martin Ryan, Red Indian Dick McGovern, Cowboy; Walter ,Ryan, Spanish Pirate; Roger Tootil, Sk Roger de Coverly; Raymond Pry-

or, Darby; Pat Quinlan, Pierrot; Desmond McGovern, Burglar; Esric Sklenars. Peter Pan; Cedric Sklenars, Whip; Fred Turney, Nigger; Desmond Craig, Oriental; Ernie Prince, Arabian Nights; Allan Quinn, Jockey; Julian Barakat, Snow Man; Pat O'Brien, Red Indian; Jim Tootill, Red Indian; Tony Bevin, Rajah; Leo Turney, Folly Bob Craig, Rajah; Joe Fitzell, Sailor Boy; Henry Goldfinch, Jockey, Bob O'Brien, Pierrot; Maurice Pryor, Maori Wahine; Wilfred Richards, Indian; Peter Bevin, Imp of Mischief; Leonard Crotty, Indian; Francis Horan, Scout; Tom Tootill, Turkish Delight; Francis O'Connor, Chinese Man; Gene Barakat, New Zealand Herald; Wallace Craig, Tennis Player; Tom Fitzell, Man in the Moon; John Fitzgerald, Pierrot; Maurice O'Connor, Chinese Man; James Pryor, French Cook; Trevor Hilliard, Indian; Peter Pryor, Golliwog; John Tootill, Jester; George Cro.tty, Cowboy; William Fitzgerald, Drum Boy; Wallace Campbel, Yellow Bird Tobacco; John Sizemore, Wooden Soldier; Bill McGovern, Jockey; Noel Spiers, With the .Times.