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The
Cecchetti Centre - 20 Years Old
20th September was a very special occasion for Cecchetti teachers
and friends as they gathered at the Urdang studios to celebrate
the 20th birthday of the Cecchetti
Centre.
Originally
founded in 1983 as a tribute to Nora Roche who taught the
Cecchetti Method at the Royal Ballet School for a quarter
of a century, the Centre has continued to fulfil its purpose
as a place where teachers and students can go to refresh and
build on their knowledge of the Method. The founder Director,
Richard Glasstone, was responsible for the Centre for the
first ten years and was followed by Cara Drower for a further
ten years. It is now in the care of the capable hands of Elisabeth
Swan who has taken over as Administrator.
The
guest speaker for the evening was Richard Glasstone who spoke
of his memories of Nora Roche and the guidance she had given
him when he was himself a teacher at the Royal Ballet School.
He remembered the performance at Sadler’s Wells on 16th
January 1983, which had been held to launch the Centre. The
cast had been tremendous, ranging from Junior Associates through
to company members led by Lesley Collier. All the dancers
were there to honour Nora Roche and all she had done. 20 years
later, the Centre set up as a tribute to her was still very
much alive.
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The
celebratory birthday cake cut by Richard Glasstone and
Cara Drower
Photograph: Geoff Wheatley |
The
celebratory birthday cake was cut by Richard Glasstone and
Cara Drower. Elisabeth Swan thanked them both for their work
and hoped she would be able to follow them successfully and
ensure the continuation of the Centre as a valuable resource
for the Method.
Daphne
Cooper
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