A
Tribute To Diana Griffiths
Diana
Griffiths died on 6th December, 2007, aged 77 years.
She was for many years a loyal supporter of the Classical
Greek Dance Faculty, a committee member and examiner
Diana
was a former committee member and examiner for the ISTD
Classical Greek Dance Association Faculty and founder
and, until recently, Principal of the Stretton School
of Dance and Drama in Shropshire.
Her
professional three year training was at the Ginner Mawer
School of Dance and Drama in Cheltenham. Before her
marriage she taught dance and drama in educational schools
and then, having established her family of five, (three
daughters and two sons) founded her own school of dance
and drama teaching in and around Church Stretton and
Shrewsbury. She followed the LAMDA syllabus for drama
and concentrated on Classical Greek Dance, Ruby Ginner
method, although Ballet and Tap classes were also available.
She strongly supported the Greek Dance Festival held
every alternate year and always entered the Group Choreography
section choosing sometimes quite controversial subjects,
which made the students really think about what they
were doing. Her choreographic and dramatic ability was
widely recognised with projects involving such organisations
as London College of Dance and the BBC. She was awarded
the Daphne Hawkesworth cup for outstanding service to
Classical Greek Dance in 1993.
Her
passion for and involvement in Classical Greek Dance
will be missed very much but it will live on through
the many students taught and inspired by her.
Susan Mitchell-Smith
Diana
lived her life to the full, always taking great interest
and care of her family and pupils. She had an extensive
knowledge on dance and in particular Classical Greek
Dance, and her ability to absorb and inpsire all those
she taught was an example to us all.
Classical
Greek Dance, Speech and Drama were among her favourite
subjects and Diana's interest in the well-being of all
her pupils was evident in the accomplished, confident
and beautifully mannered young people that emerged from
her Stretton School of Dance and Drama.
Choreography
was another special love of Diana's and this talent
resulted in her school winning the Choreography Cup
on many occasions at the Classical Greek Dance Festival.
Like
so many of us I will remember Diana with affection and
respect. I feel most privileged to have known Diana
and to have been a small part of life attending many
Committee and Examiner's Meetings with her over the
years.
I
will treasure the happy memories of Diana and her pupils
staying at my home over the years I was Chairman, when
they were in transit to various ISTD Congress, Demonstrations
and presentations along with Dance World at Olympia,
which was a very special occasion.
Thank
you Diana for all you gave to us!
Sonia Bond
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