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What
Shall we Wear?
Looking at National
Examinations.
The season of examinations
is once more approaching, and again we are faced with the question of
what to wear. In other faculties the question begs its own answer - Ballet
is unquestionably Ballet, while even Modern, with its ever increasing
variety of work, falls within a recognisable dress code. In the National
Faculty we are faced with two options - traditional blouse and skirt,
or a more recent innovation, leotard and skirt. Both are equally acceptable,
and perhaps we should look at ways of making the best of both options.
First, lets us look
at the blouse and skirt - certainly the most closely related to our subject,
and especially suitable for children. The problem most often seen here
is the baggy, ill-fitting blouses, which 'ride up' when in action, and
completely obscure the line of the upper body. The problem is comparatively
easy to solve. The blouse, whether short, three-quarter, or long-sleeved,
should be an easy fit but not voluminous. It should be reasonably long
and attached approximately ten centimetres below the natural waistline,
to a gathered petticoat, about three metres wide. This blouse-petticoat
should be exactly the same length as the top skirt. The weight of the
petticoat holds down the blouse and gives fullness and line to the skirt.
The skirt itself should be full - gathered gives a more suitable 'folk'
line, and about four metres in width. Fabric colours and trimmings are
of course a very individual choice, but with four girls within a set,
some colour scheme and conformity of trimming gives a much more pleasing
effect. It is very important that skirts within a group should be 'lined
up' in length. For example, thirty centimetres from the floor in character
shoes, according to the height of the dancers gives some guidance, and
large tucks above the line of the trimming are useful for future lengthening.
Some teachers go to a great deal of trouble to match hair ribbons to skirts,
and this can make a vast difference to the overall appearance of the group.
After all, with such attention to detail in grooming, an examiner can
be reasonably hopeful of seeing equally detailed and thoughtful work.
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| Girls
& Boys, dressing for National |
One
of many National Hairstyles |
For the older students
who may prefer to wear leotards, a long-sleeved, well-fitting style, with
not too high a neckline, is flattering. Camisole tops are not really compatible
with National Dance. Again, some thought in colour scheme makes an enormous
difference, and it is not too difficult to find leotards to match skirts
or trimming, or vice-versa. A petticoat is always a worthwhile investment
in improving the overall line, and, made with deep hems or tucks, will
last a lifetime. White polycotton has been a gift to the blouse and petticoat
maker - easy to wash and practically drip-dry.
The fashion for
'national bloomers' is thankfully dying out. Even the folk dance companies
no longer use these gruesome garments, usually preferring a modesty skirt,
short, straight and providing modest cover for pants. White tights are
a pleasing accessory, and failing this most students can produce a very
'washed-out' pair of Ballet tights which are an improvement on Ballet
pink legs. Regarding shoes, the old-fashioned black character shoe with
bar and button fastening cannot be beaten for support and neatness, and
after all, is very similar in style to the type of shoe worn with many
costumes.
We cannot dress
up for each country in our Syllabus, but we can most surely dress up for
the occasion of our exam, and the spark which this gives to our appearance
surely rubs off on our work. One last plea - if the children do not usually
dress like this in class, have sufficient dress rehearsal to ensure ease
and so avoid fidgeting. All too often we see children wearing perfectly
good national skirts but holding out the imaginary skirt which they are
accustomed to in class.
Meanwhile - happy
dancing and thank you to the many teachers who already know how to dress
our young folk dancers. Your efforts are always noted and appreciated
and, when your young professional dancer returns to visit you one day,
she will surely thank you for teaching her the basics of correct grooming.
Margaret
Dixon-Phillip
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National
Faculty Notices
Teachers Group
2001 Programme
Sunday 25th March 2001
A day of Clogging with the well known teacher and expert Pat Tracey
Sunday 24th
June
Hungarian (non-syllabus) and Gipsy with Hilary Bolton. In the pipeline
for the autumn, by request dances from the Isle of Man.
All classes start at 10.30am. Anyone is welcome from any Faculty or Society.
Contact Miss Annette Clark, 64 Lupin Drive, Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex
CMI 6FH. Tel: 01245 469197. `
Don't
miss these classes.
'The Jota' by
Marina Keet
Any book on any aspect of Spanish dancing is more than welcome and for
students and teachers this is a mine of information. Dame Marina covers
the background, history, music, etc in great detail a most valuable and
interesting book to have on your folklore shelf. From Sherrill Wexler,
1 Blackett Close, Staines, Middlesex TW18 3NW.
£15.00 + p&p £1.00 (UK) £1.50 (Europe)
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Maypoles
in Kettlewell
Every year for 2
weeks in the North Yorkshire village of Kettlewell a special 'scarecrow'
festival is held. The villagers make and dress up 'scarecrow' figures
in the most ingenious and original costumes. Visitors come from miles
around and arrive by coach and car for this most interesting and unusual
attraction - and all for charity. The photo shows a Maypole and dancers
posed on the village square. When the wind blows the ribbons move, which
in turn motivates the arms, at a quick glance you think they are real.
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'Scarecrow'
Maypole Dancers at Kettlewell, North Yorkshire |
Maypole dancing
is very popular and Beverley McDermott (the National Secretary) is always
being asked for information.
There is an excellent
book of instructions 'Dancing Round the Maypole' by Diana Jewitt at £10.00,
CD at £12 or combined book & CD at £20.00 + p&p £2.00 available from:
The English Folk Dance & Song Society
Cecil Sharp House
2 Regent's Park Road
London NW1 7AY
Also from the EFDDS
as a good accompaniment is 'May' an education resource pack at £9.95 -
part of a set of British Traditions, May/Midwinter/Plough. Both books
are in the ISTD Library.
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Scottish
- The Millennium Dance Awards
The Millennium Dance
was written by Melody Williams and taught to members of the Scottish Section
at the Autumn meeting in 1999. At that time Melody planned that all dancers
who performed the dance in public would be presented with an award. We,
at the Cheltenham Scottish Society, thought that this was too good a challenge
not to take up. Although we only have around 30 dancers registered for
Highland Dancing classes we had an award ceremony at the close of the
Summer Term, on 29th July 2000, when 15 awards were presented. That afternoon
10 of those dancers presented the Millennium Dance at the Gloucester Festival
of Dance.
The photograph shows
some of those dancers who received their awards with the President of
the Cheltenham Scottish Society, Mr Iain Willox, who made the presentations.
The second photograph
shows, what we believe to be, the first two dancers ever to perform the
Millennium Dance in public, what is more they are father and son, Andy
and James Allan. They performed at a Burns Supper in Gloucester on the
27th January 2000.
The Cheltenham Scottish
Society was founded by exiled Scots on the 30th November 1939 under the
Presidency of the Earl of Wemyss and March, the present Earl, Lord Neidpath,
is our Patron. One of the aims of the Society is to spread the Scottish
Culture and keep it alive among the young people and, to this end, Highland
Dancing has been taught for several years. Records are scanty but the
present class has been running continuously for the last 20 years under
the firm hand of Pat Jackson assisted lately by George Steward and Marrianne
Millar.
George
Steward
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Project
24
This clever
project was created by a pupil at Northern Dance Centre. The original
idea was made like a stage set and represented a Norwegian scene with
mountains, real fir trees, and a stream (not real!) a house, hay cart,
even ducks and animals, together with drawings of Norwegian costumes.
A most interesting and unusual work showing a new and inventive approach.
National certainly gives not only a sense of Folk dance but also develops
the creative ability.
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Dates
for your Diary
Spring Meeting
Sunday 20th May 2001
am: Workshop
pm: Jack McConnachie Sword Competition
Make a note of the place: Roffrey Institute, Horsham.
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