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People
in the News
The
Haxell Cup
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Elizabeth
Witt Haxell Cup |
Congratulations
to Elizabeth Witt of Tunbridge Wells who was awarded the Haxell Cup for
the Millennium year. Elizabeth has been involved with National over a
period of many years and during this time has presented excellent work
covering the whole spectrum from Primary to Advanced 2. Her choreography
for groups, trios, duets and solos are always so original and beautifully
dressed (and correctly), no wonder they do so well at local festivals,
All England's and Grandison Clark Awards. The Cup was presented to her
at the Dance Consortium show for whom she teaches all the National and
with Alison Crips and Louise Mizon, the Ballet and Modern. The show was
brilliant and Elizabeth was given a tremendous reception by pupils, friends
and parents, followed by a wonderful buffet and special cake. The show
was called 'This is My Moment' - for Elizabeth it certainly was.
Joan
Lawson Award
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Gustavo
Beserra Quintas & Vanessa Gould Joan Lawson Award |
What a great deal
we all owe to Joan Lawson especially in her involvement and introduction
of the National to the Teachers Course at the Royal Ballet School. This
year was a sad occasion as after over 25 years the Teacher's Course is
being discontinued. It seemed very fitting the award should go to two
excellent students, a boy and girl, Gustavo Beserra Quintans and Vanessa
Gould, after all National is all about partners dancing together. The
ceremony was attended by many past students, some who had flown half way
round the world. Valerie Adams presented the performance and her now famous
classical class and Gailene Stock, the Director of the Royal Ballet School
the Diplomas. Always a lovely summer event which will be missed.
Helen Wingrave
Scholarship
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Joanne
Snell Helen Wingrave Scholarship |
Joanne Snell from
Scunthorpe was the recipient of this years Scholarship and she enjoyed
a delightful week on the HQ National Course. Her first interest in National
began as a child when she entered festivals and this has remained with
her ever since. A former student at the London College she now teaches
in and around Scunthorpe and is much in demand for not only National but
other dance styles. She entered into the spirit and was a delightful teacher
to have on the course. If you would like to attend the HQ Course in 2001
write to Beverley McDermott at HQ for an entry form.
Marjorie Barton
Award
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Fiona
Sheeham Marjorie Barton Award |
The Marjorie Barton
Award is a special award which is not given regularly but is designed
to help a young teacher develop and progress to a higher status in the
National Faculty. Marjorie Barton has always been very forward looking
and keen to encourage the new generation, especially in National Dance.
Fiona Sheeham, the recipient, is a very hardworking and enthusiastic teacher.
Recently she was appointed onto the Committee of the Dance Research. Fiona
is a graduate from the College of the RAD and has gained her Masters Degree
from the Laban Centre. Apart from National she is also an active teacher
of Greek and Modern.
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Honouring
Dame Ninnette-de-Valois
As part of the Millennium
year, Ireland issued a series of stamps celebrating famous Irish artists,
among which was Dame Ninette-de-Valois. Apart from her amazing contribution
to Ballet, Dame Ninette has always been supportive of Folk Dance, hence
the inclusion in the curriculum at the Royal Ballet School and White Lodge.
Dame Ninnette is a member of the ISTD Grand Council as well as patron
of the National Dance Faculty. The National keep the Irish tradition very
much alive with dances in Grade 4 and Advanced I. The first dance that
Dame Ninette learnt as a child was in fact the Irish Jig. A great honour
to a great lady.
(Thanks to Clodagh
Martin, ISTD Organiser for the Republic of Ireland, for sending the stamp
and arranging for reproduction permission)
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HQ
Course
The special Millennium
National lectures at HQ were a tremendous success, each teacher a specialist
in their subject, and each with so much to offer. Everyone enjoyed the
opportunity to study a country in depth, they were certainly not disappointed.
Sue Arkle's Spanish
class was excellent and her build up and development of style was a lesson
in its self (the type of class one expects candidates to present for Associate
Diplomas, Licentiate and Fellowship examinations). Leslie Haddon and Sue
Chip taught some exciting dances from Bohemia and Moravia with tremendous
flair and energy (one teacher went away and taught them in her summer
school and entered 3 as a Folk Dance Study unit!).
A great session.
From Greece, Vassiliki Baradaki took us through the syllabus dances and
some interesting ones from Crete. The lovely flow, ease and musicality
of her demonstration highlighted what a beautiful style the Greek Dances
have but how subtle it is to achieve.
On the first day,
Marion Roberts concentrated on the finer points of the dances from the
UK, supported by June Wilson and on the last day, approaching Associate
Diplomas. A really instructive and valuable week.
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Sue
Arkle demonstrates a step from Tangos |
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"Highland
Dress as worn in the Ballroom today"
A reprint of a lecture
given at Congress several years ago.
During the past
century Highland Dress for men has not altered to any appreciable extent.
There are, however, variations of the jackets described in these notes,
and the sketches which show the styles most popular at the present time
are intended purely as a guide.
The controversial
subject 'on which shoulder should the sash be worn by the ladies' has
been answered for us by Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, the Lord King-of-Arms.
Although not yet
made official the following four styles have the Lord LyonŐs approval
and it is with his sanction they are now presented.
There are, however,
many attractive ways in which the sash or tartan may be used to decorate
a dress, particularly for demonstration teams of dancers.
Day Dress -
Hunting tartan kilt, leather sporran, kilt pin, white shirt, tartan or
matching colour tie, tweed jacket and vest with horn buttons, plain hose
with turnover tops.
Informal Dress
- As day dress, but without jacket or vest for dancing. Full
Evening Dress
- Dress tartan kilt, dress sporran, kilt pin, fully diced hose. With
any of the following jackets.
- Montrose Tunic
- Velvet or cloth, black or of a colour to blend with the kilt. Silver
buttons, matching or tartan vest, white shirt with turn down collar
or stiff shirt with wing collar, black bow tie or lace jabot.
- Doublet - Velvet
or cloth, black or of a colour to blend with the kilt. Silver buttons,
matching or tartan vest, white shirt with turn down collar or stiff
shirt with wing collar, black bow tie or lace jabot.
- Prince Charlie
Coatee - Black cloth with silk facings or velvet of a colour to blend
with the kilt, silver buttons, matching or tartan vest, white shirt
with turn down collar or stiff shirt with wing collar, black bow tie
or lace jabot. A silver brooch mounted with cairngorms may be worn on
the jabot. Lace ruffles at the cuffs may be worn with the Montrose Tunic
or Doublet if the jabot is used. Skean Dhu is worn on the right leg
held by the stocking. Green or red garters and flashes. Black Ghillie
shoes.
Wearing of sashes
by ladies in evening dress
- Style worn by
Clanswomen
The sash is worn over the right shoulder across the breast to the waist,
across the back over the right shoulder and is secured by a pin or small
brooch on the right shoulder.
- Style worn by
Chieftainesses
Wives of clan chiefs and wives of colonels of Scottish regiments. The
sash, which may be rather fuller (24in. wide with 12in. fringe) is worn
over the left shoulder across the breast to the waist across the back
over the left shoulder and secured with a brooch on the left shoulder.
- Style worn by
ladies who have married out of their clan
but who still wish to use their original clan tartan. The sash usually
longer than "A" style is worn over the right shoulder, secured
there with a pin and fastened in a large bow on the left hip.
- Style worn by
country dancers
or where any lady desires to keep the front of the dress clear of the
sash (as for example, when wearing the riband of a chivalric order or
any orders and decorations). This style is similar to the belted plaid
and is really a small arisaid. It is fixed on at the back of the waist
or held by a small belt and is secured at the right shoulder by a pin
or brooch so that the ends fall backwards from the right shoulder and
swing at the back of the right arm
| USHA NEED IMAGE OF DRESSES HERE |
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Project
23
On the Internet
These days students and children obtain so much information from the Internet
for their projects. For her Advanced 2, Lynsey Driver from the Northern
Dance Centre decided to make the very famous Hungarian Cake "Dobos".
Not having a recipe, she was able to make contact with an Hungarian chef
in Budapest, who took her step by step through the intricacies of making
an authentic one. They are not easy to make, but delicious. He would have
been impressed
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Wales
comes to the North
An excellent one
day Welsh course, organised by the National Dance Promotion Committee
and the National Teachers Group was held in Stockport. Every aspect you
wanted to know about Welsh dancing, costumes, styles, history, music etc.
were so clearly demonstrated and explained by Dawn Webster. Everyone agreed
that it had been a brilliant day. Teachers had travelled far and wide
to attend and they weren't disappointed - it was one of those 'not to
be missed' days that the National frequently arrange.
Are you on the
NDPC list or the NTG? - No! a pity to miss out on events such as this.
Contact: Miss Helen Gray on 0161 4408093 for the NDPC and Annette Clark
on 01245 469197 for the NTG.
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(Left)
Welsh course
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