Classical
Greek Dance Finals
The
Classical Greek Dance Finals were held on 7th May at
the Mermaid Theatre, Blackfriars, London, the spacious
stage with good flooring and lighting effects allowing
the dancers to give their best performances.
The main adjudicator was Barbara Sharples, an adjudicator
member of the British & International Federation
of Festivals and member of the All-England Dance Panel
of Adjudication.
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‘Peace,
War & Hope’ (Carroll/Dupont School) winners
in the Senior Section |
The
Junior Duet section gave us an excellent start to the
day, a foretaste of what was to come. Each dance had
something special to offer the audience, the lyrical
‘Spirits of the Water’ (Emjay School) danced
to words and music contrasting with a strongly performed
‘Ode to Apollo’ (Carroll/Dupont School).
A delightful ‘Summer Breeze’ (Maureen Jeffrey),
the eventual winners, was followed by an enchanting
story about a ‘Mermaid’ (Mayhew) and finally
came some sparkling little ‘Sunbeams’ (Godsall/Roshe
School). All the young dancers so natural and appealing
were a joy to watch.
There were some very ambitious themes in the Inter Trios/Quartets
very well carried through with a good use of the Greek
technique. The winners were a very strong and well presented
trio ‘Benedictus’ (Carroll/ Dupont School).
I also liked ‘Drifting Clouds’ (Emjay),
the dancers showing a lovely light lyrical quality.
There was only one junior boy, but young Charlie Hulme
(Karen Collings) gave an enthusiastic and well-acted
performance. The senior boys were both excellent, Joseph
Connor (Carroll/Dupont), the winner, showed some very
strong athletic work with a very dramatic presentation
in ‘Famine’, whilst runner-up Carl Williams
(Sussex School) in ‘Spirit of the Vine’
had humour and versatility with an impressive use of
eyes and mime.
 |
 |
| ‘Drifting
Clouds’ (Emjay School) third in the Inter
Trio Section |
‘Destruction
of the Rain Forest’ (Mayhew School) second
in the Inter trio Section |
Senior Girls Solos showed what Greek Dance is all about
with an inspiring and exciting use of the Greek technique.
Very varied themes were offered in differing Greek Dance
styles with good use of he spoken word. The winner Alice
Williamson (Yasmine Taylor School) in ‘Everything
has its Time’ was a beautiful dancer with very
expressive arm lines and a natural flow of movement.
There were many excellent performances, amongst them
were Annis Pittam (Karen Collings) with a very moving
interpretation in ‘The Poppy of Remembrance’.
Ruth Draisey (Cynthia Carr) was a vaporous ‘Mountain
Mist’ with excellent scarf movements. There was
lovely work from Kathryn Barnes (Emjay) and Carly Shatford
(Mayhew) both technically strong with well-portrayed
story lines.
At this standard the flow and continuity of movement
combined with supple bodies and lovely arm lines was
exhilarating to watch. The many facets of Greek Dance
allowed the dancers to expand their horizons both artistically
and technically.
In
the Inter Duet Section there were a variety of themes
and emotions. Humour in ‘The Huntress and the
Nymph’ (Emjay). Fear and uncertainty well portrayed
in ‘Children of War’ (Emjay). Joy of dance
from the winners ‘A Time to Dance’ (Karen
Collings) with excellent use of words and music. Finally
grace in movement in ‘A Child is Born’ (Carroll/Dupont),
though I was a little worried that they were going to
tread on the baby!
We had three very different items in the Junior Trios/Quartets.
Deserving special mention were an excellently mimed
chariot ride in ‘Helen, Selena and Eos’
(Karen Collings), lovely grouping from the winners ‘Children
of the Wind’ (Mayhew) and some very joyous ‘Sparkling
Rubies’ (Maureen Jeffrey).
Before lunch came the Senior Groups (16-21 years), for
me one of the highlights of the day, and in adjudicator
Barbara Sharples’ words ‘a tremendous wealth
of talent’. She went on to say how much she had
enjoyed them all and how she appreciated the time and
effort that had been put into the dances.There were
some really excellent performances. ‘Exhilaration’
interpreted by the Castle School with zeal and energy
in abundance. The beauty of the ‘Ice Palace’
(Buckhurst Hill and Woodford School). ‘Lament
for Autumn’ (Mayhew School) which had a beautiful
opening tableau followed by some very imaginative and
sensitive choreography. An original interpretation of
the ‘Virus’ (Lorna Clark School) well carried
through with clever use of the differing Greek techniques.
And the winners ‘Peace, War and Hope’ (Carroll/Dupont
School), who gave a very powerful and well-produced
performance with excellent contrast between the warriors
and peace.
After a good lunch we came back refreshed for the afternoon
session and the Junior Groups. Barbara Sharples told
the competitors how much she had enjoyed their performances
but told them to remember their footwork, she also said
what a good training it is to work as a team and become
aware of others. There were some charming ideas very
suitable for the age group with excellent costumes.
In first place was ‘Goodnight Sleep Tight’
(Kilburn School), which had good interplay between the
dancers. Runners-up were ‘Hocus Pocus’ (Carroll/Dupont
School) with an excellent entrance and ending.
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‘A
Drifting Cloud’
(Emjay School) |
In
a duet we look for dancers who work well together complementing
each other. Most of the dancers in the Senior Section
achieved this. The winners ‘The Screaming Curse’
(Karen Collings) gave a very dramatic interpretation
with an expressive use of dance movements. There was
good strong technical work from ‘Battle of the
Wills’ (Carroll/Dupont) and an excellent ‘Dionysus
and Ariadne’ (Sussex School) which was danced
with strength and emotion. ‘The Furies’
(Emjay) had an excellent choice of music which set the
right atmosphere.
The Junior Solos were charming and imaginative. The
winner Alice Vanstone ‘Summer Garland’ (Brenner/
Merrett) was a lovely graceful dancer with good arm
lines. Runner-up Madeleine Smith ‘A Garland for
Persephone’ (Brenner/Merrett) was a charming and
natural performer.
Barbara Sharples told the 12-15 year groups how important
equal input was, and not to rely on just one or two
dancers. The winners ‘Migration’’(Kilburn
School) had strong moving patterns showing the flight
of birds to very inspiring music. I enjoyed ‘Pandora’s
Box’ (Castle School) an original interpretation
with good atmosphere, humour and drama, and ‘Reflections
of Water’ (Redhurst School) rippling with excellent
scarf movements.
The Senior Trios/Quartets continued the high standard
of work seen amongst the older students. ‘The
Three Fates’ (Emjay) were worthy winners with
a very strong presentation held throughout. I also liked
‘Warning of Winter’ (Mayhew) which was powerfully
portrayed with a good atmosphere, and ‘Elysian
Fields’ (Karen Collings) beautifully danced with
expressive movements.
We had an outstanding winner in the Inter Solos ‘Ate’
danced by Alissa Churchyard (Roshe School) which had
an excellent beginning with a very dramatic interpretation
and good facial expressions. Other highlights were:
‘Voice of Death’ Anna Hammett (Emjay) who
showed a great feeling for movement, using the whole
body; ‘Children of Chernobyl’ Faye Hawkins
(Carroll/Dupont) a well-portrayed theme; and ‘Remembrance’
Georgina Rafferty (Mayhew) a sincere performance.
The climax of the day came with the Choreographic Section.
What an inspiring vehicle Greek Dance is for these powerful
and dramatic themes, the wide syllabus of varied technical
movements so suitable for any interpretation, emotional
or abstract. The first number ‘Spartacus’
(Buckhurst Hill and Woodford School) was an excellent
production, well choreographed and costumed with good
atmosphere. ‘Flowers of the Season’ (Redhurst
School) gave a colourful rendering of the seasons with
lovely grouping. ‘From Hades to Heaven’
(Sussex School) was an original idea effectively using
the differing Greek Dance qualities. ‘Aphrodite’s
Lament’ (Castle School) had an excellent opening
group showing a good use of the Greek technique. The
winners ‘Requiem’ (Stretton School) gave
a very dramatic and moving interpretation of the world’s
tragedies, set to music and words, sensitively portrayed
with great feeling.
Penny Childs, committee member and adjudicator of the
Special Awards throughout the day, spoke of the excellent
day of dance and the wonderful ideas that had been so
well carried through. Adjudicator Barbara Sharples said
how pleased she was to have been invited and how much
she enjoyed the day and the many outstanding performances.
Concluding, Chairman Kay Ball thanked everyone for their
support and spoke of the very high standard of work
seen this year. She thanked the adjudicators, the organisers
especially Karen Collings and Carol Vasko, the backroom
and front-of-house helpers including the staff of the
Mermaid Theatre who had been so helpful and welcoming.
Jennifer Schena
Photography: On The Spot Photography
RESULTS
•
10 years & under
Solos
1st Alice Vanstone (Brenner/Merrett)
‘Summer Garland’
2nd Madeleine Smith (Brenner/Merrett)
‘A Garland for Persephone’
3rd Sophie Dipper (Brenner/Merrett)
‘In a Woodland Glade’
Duets
1st Helen Covey/Heather Wright (Maureen
Jeffrey) ‘Summer Breeze’
2nd Rachel Wilde/Shannon Perdy (Carroll/Dupont)
‘Ode to Apollo’’
3rd Sarah Jane Earl/Eleanor Tollan
(Mayhew School) ‘The Mermaid’
Trios & Quartets
1st Sarah Jane Earl/Eleanor Tollan/Amy
Shatford (Mayhew School) ‘Children of the Wind’
2nd Amy Lane/Bethany Pearce/Charlie
Hulme
(Castle School) ‘Helios, Selene and Eos’
3rd Helen Covey/Zeziah Rea-Bradley/Heather
Wright (Maureen Jeffrey) ‘Sparkling Rubies’
• Groups 11 years & under
1st ‘Goodnight, Sleep Tight’
Kilburn School
2nd ‘Hocus Pocus’ Carroll/Dupont
School
3rd ‘The Rainbow’ Lorna
Clark School
• 11-14
years
Solos
1st Allissa Churchyard (Roshe School)
‘Ate, Goddess of Mischief and Vengeance’
2nd Anna Hammett (Emjay) ‘Voice
of Death’
3rd Tied:
Rosie Hulme (Castle School)
‘I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud’
Faye Hawkins (Carroll/Dupont)
‘Children of Chernobyl’
Duets
1st Georgie Franks/Rosie Hulme (Castle
School)
‘A Time to Dance’
2nd Alexandra Sarrafan/Chelsea Hogg
(Carroll/Dupont)
‘A Child is Born’
3rd Tied:
Chloe Tubbs/Jordan Evans (Emjay) ‘Children of
War’
Brooke Manning/Katie Lovell (Emjay)
‘The Huntress and the Nymph’
Trios & Quartets
1st Katie Digirolamo/Faye Hawkins/Alexandra
Sarrafan (Carroll/Dupont) ‘Benedictus’
2nd Georgina Rafferty/Hannah Smith/Sarah
Mardell (Mayhew) ‘Destruction of the Rain Forest’
3rd Emily Matthews/Bethany Scourfield/Bethany
Whitlock (Emjay) ‘Drifting Clouds’
• Groups 12-15 years
1st ‘Migration’ Kilburn
School
2nd ‘Reflections of Water’
Redhurst School
3rd ‘From a Distance’ Penny
B Academy
• 15-18
years
Solos
1st Alice Williamson (Yasmine Taylor)
‘Everything has its Time’
2nd Tied:
Kathryn Barnes (Emjay)
‘Nike, Goddess of Victory’
Carly Shatford (Mayhew School)
‘Hyppolita, the Amazon Queen’
3rd Tied:
Annis Pittman (Castle School)
‘The Poppy of Remembrance’
Megan Dowell (Castle School) ‘Niobe’
Duets
1st Karen Shiels/Megan Dowell (Castle
School)
‘The Screaming Curse’
2nd Joseph Connor/Vanessa Forte (Carroll/Dupont)
‘Battle of the Wills’
3rd Tied:
Kathryn Barnes/Claire Lovell (Emjay)
‘Honouring the Furies at the Festival’
Carl Williams/Emma Long
(Sussex School) ‘Dionysus & Ariadne’
Trios & Quartets
1st Cathryn Harries/Lisa Edmonds/Claire
Lovell (Emjay) ‘The Three Fates Weaving the Web
of Life’
2nd Hannah Sarrafan/Lisa Heath/Lilli
Sarrafan (Caroll/Dupont) ‘Gift of Life’
3rd Zoe Davies/Megan Dowell/Annis Pittman
(Castle School) ‘Elysian Fields’
• Groups
16-21 years
1st ‘Peace, War and Hope’
Carroll/Dupont School
2nd Tied:
‘Exhilaration’ Castle School
‘The Virus’ Lorna Clark School
3rd ‘Lament for Autumn’
Mayhew School
• Junior
Boys
1st Charlie Hulme (Castle School) ‘Eros’’
• Senior
Boys
1st Joseph Connor (Carroll/Dupont School)
‘Famine’
2nd Carl Williams (Sussex School) ‘Spirit
of the Vine’
• Group
Choreography
1st ‘Requiem’ Stretton
School
2nd ‘From Hades to Heaven’
Sussex School
3rd ‘Spartacus and the Slaves’
Buckhurst Hill and Woodford School
• The Doris
McBride Trophy
‘Requiem’ Stretton School
• The Freda
Crockett Costume Award
‘Lament for Autumn’ Mayhew School
• The Nancy
Sherwood Trophy
‘Migration’ Kilburn School
• The Irene
Mawer Trophy
’Famine’ Joseph Connor, Carroll/Dupont School
• Rosina
Wenham Shield
‘The Virus’ Lorna Clark School
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