DANCE RECITAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 8, 7 December 1926, Page 3

DANCE RECITAL

MISS MACKENZIE-FORBES’S PUPILS. CLEVER, ARTISTIC PERFORMANCES. A second dance recital of note this year was held in the Opera House last evening, when pupils from Miss E. Mackenzie-Forbes’s studio gave a highly clever display of the manifold phases of a delightful art. Miss Mac-kcnzie-Forbes has many talented pupils under her guidance, and for well over two hours they delighted a large audience in character, national and operatic measures, going through the intricacies of each performance in a style that reflected greatly her ability as a teacher.

Miss Mackenzie-Forbes has every reason to be proud of the year’s achievement. Each and every performer acquitted herself in a very creditable manner, and altogether the recital was a distinct success. The lrocking in the various numbers was particularly rich and in harmony with the garden-like stage setting of green arches and beds 'of pink and yellow tulips. And when tlie curtain rose on this pretty scene the lengthy programme was put through in quick time,’ with whole-hearted appreciative applause for each, and floral tributes for all, even dolls for the tiniest ones. There were many dainty solos and ballets throughout the evening, from the appealing Doll’s Fancy, with dolllike little girls stepping out of cre-tonne-covered cardboard boxes and going off on the arms of red-coated, dashing soldiers, to “Cornin’ Thro’ the Rye,” an original interpretation of the favourite old song; from the effective-ly-ranged, well-executed Cupid’s Gavotte, with its old-world atmosphere, to the solo performance of a tiny lady of about four (M. Ongley), who, dressed in blue, danced delightfully and very intelligently for one so young. The stage manager was Mr G. Remington, who had everything arranged faultlessly, and an orchestra comprising Misses C. Hancock, McKenzie and Messrs Gough and Piper helped greatly in the success of the various numbers. There were many insistent demands for encores, but such was the length of the programme and the time taken in the interpretation of the solos and ballets that Miss MackenzieForbes wisely forbade repeat performances. Many of the performers showed promise of future good work, and all, from the juniors to the more advanced of the pupils, revealed that they had mastered much of the technique of the most expressive and exacting of all the arts. Altogether the presentation was fully demonstrative of the sound training that Miss Mac-kenzie-Forbes imparts to her pupils.

The interesting programme was contributed to by “The Dance of the Dove,” Miss R. Sapwell; “Grecian Eurythmics,” Misses J. Mitchell, R. Clapham, E. Curtis, M. Richards, D. South, D. Mac Alister, E. Curtis, M. Thompson, 11. Hunter; “Grecian Cymbal,” Misses M. Hands and M. Bowden; “Grecian Bow and Arrow,” Miss E. Boon; “Doll’s Fancy,” Misses J. Corlett, A. Simmons, A. Jones, M. Morris, 1). Webb, C. Sapwell, C. Wilson, G- Taylor, E. Miller, P. Jefferson, L. Watters, V. Olliver; soloist, Miss V. Oram; “A Dainty Solo,” Miss M. Ongley; “ Sur Les Pointes,” Miss E. Boon; “Twilight,” Misses ,M. Cummings and H. Hunter; “First Steps” (centre practice), juniors; song, “Somebody’s Ball Dress,” Miss G. Tavlor;; Dutch dance, Miss E. Miller; “Dance of tho Rose,” Miss C. Sapwell; “Cupid’s Gavotte,” Misses M. Bowden, G. Hands, H. Hunter, E. Boon, A. Saunders, M. Cummings, L. Watters, D. Webb, C. AVilson ; skipping dance, Misses N. Kinnimont, A. Jones, E. Miller; soloist, Miss V. Olliver; “Flower Seller,” Miss C. Ongley; “A Spring Idyll,” Misses M. Richards, G. Hands, M. Bowden, H. Hunter; operatic dance, Mies V. Oram; “Cornin’ Thro’ the Rye,” juniors; international reels, England R. Sapwell, Ireland E. Boon, Scotland N. Kinnimont, AY ales E. Miller; “Dance D’Arlequin” (scene outside Columbine’s cottage). Miss G. Taylor; “Jazz-a-Mania,” seniors; Highland fling, juniors; “Forbidden Dance Elves,” Misses M. and A r . Oram ; song, trio (Sally, Irene, Mary), Misses D. Mac Alister, M. Richards, M. Bowden; “Sevillian Caprice,” Miss R. Sapwell; sword dance, juniors; “A Fantasy,” Miss H. Hunter; “Italian Peasant,” Miss E. Boon ; Chinese dance, Miss M. Bowden; song, “My Prayer,” Miss R. Mann; finale, “AVintcr,” soloist Miss V. Olliver.