Filming
of the Classical Greek Video
On Sunday 19th
August, there came together a small group of people with a common goal:
the preparation, rehearsal and filming of the set work of the Vocational
Syllabi of the Classical Greek Dance Faculty. This gathering took place
at the Castle School in Torquay and comprised Cynthia Carr, Kay Ball
and myself, along with selected students of Karen Collings, Di Paull,
Susan Mitchell-Smith and Cynthia Carr. We had approximately three days
to rehearse and two days to film.
For three days
we would rehearse from 10.00am-7.00pm: Intermediate Foundation students
in the morning and Intermediate and Advanced 1 and Advanced 2 students
in the afternoon, pulling apart and perfecting the technique and settings
of the sequences as well as choreographing examples of free sequences
at each level.
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| Filmimg
the CGD video |
The children and
students were very enthusiastic, hardworking and receptive. It must have
been quite nerve-racking for them, initially, not only having one examiner
or teacher to watch and scrutinise their every movement, but three! However,
the team 'gelled' and the work came together very quickly. Mrs Carr had
been able to prepare some of the free sequences while at Summer School,
and this proved to be a great help in terms of saving rehearsal time.
Although we had been working very hard, we were eagerly anticipating
moving to ISTD headquarters, to actually film the video. Wednesday arrived
and I went to London earlier than the others in order to meet Ben, who
would film the Intermediate Boys' sequence. Mrs Carr, the students and
children, followed on a little later and we all met up at headquarters
to have a brief rehearsal and plot the positioning of the sequences.
We then made our way to the home of Sonia Bond (Chairman of the Greek
Faculty) who provided us with the most generous hospitality over the
next few days, including personalised packed lunches!
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| Hip
Stretch |
Thursday morning;
a 'crack of dawn' start in order to reach headquarters as early as possible
and to meet up with the 'Missing Link' film crew. We started by filming
the Intermediate Foundation Syllabus. We thought we would have time to
film two or three 'takes' but sometimes the children managed to do it
in one. Repeats were often only necessary in order to adjust and correct
the filming angles, to get the best views of the work. The children were
very excited about the filming and were quite happy to perform the exercises
more than once, if required. We then filmed the Intermediate Boys' sequence,
which proved a little easier as we were only following one person.
After a short break,
we then proceeded to film the Advanced 1 Syllabus. This, and the remaining
work, proved more complicated to film as the movements of the sequences
were more complex and there were more people and patterns to follow.
However, the film crew were very good humoured and supportive and the
girls managed to keep smiling in spite of numerous takes and constant
reminders from the increased number of examiners and teachers (now four
of us!). However, as we had been working so well we were able to film
a few exercises scheduled for the next day's filming.
We left for Mrs
Bond's house, feeling completely drained; even the teachers who, although
not dancing, had been working to keep spirits up and everything 'ticking
over' smoothly. That night, early bedtimes were had by all!
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| The
Chiton Position |
On the last day,
Friday, everyone knew they had to keep motivated as we still had a lot
of work to film and the girls were battling against tiredness and the
pressure of such a tight schedule. They more than rose to the occasion
and blood sugar levels were kept elevated (not only the dancers, but
also the film crew) by large amounts of much needed biscuits! We were
also joined that afternoon by a pupil of Diana Griffiths, who had been
rehearsing separately and had come to perform part of the Advanced 2
ritual work, from a more dramatic perspective.
Everyone finished
that day's filming utterly exhausted and more than ready to return home
to their various parts of the country. It had been both an exciting and
challenging project in which the chemistry of the working group had been
of the same vital importance as the calibre of the dancers. All that
now remained was for the video to be edited; angles chosen, announcements
made - work to be done during the following months. In two days, we witnessed
the joy of the lyrical and ritual work, the strength and exhilaration
of the athletic work, the passion and excitement of the bacchic work
and the depth and solemnity of the tragic work.
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| 'Missing
Link' film crew. Taken during the filming of the video of the Vocational
Syllabi of the Classical Greek Dance Faculty |
I am sure that
the Classical Greek Dance Faculty can feel proud of the work that has
been developed over the past years and pleased that they now have a visual
record of this most artistic and creative form of dance. I do hope it
will serve to inspire dancers and dance teachers, all over the world,
to discover the benefit and joy of Classical Greek Dance.
Alison
Seddon
Photographs by Sonia Bond
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Classical
Greek Dance news from Athens
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'A
Dance with Torches' - taken during a performance of 'Olympic Games'
in Athens, Greece. |
During the Cultural
Spring Festival in June 2002 a very successful performance of 'Olympic
Games' took place in Athens, choreographed by Maria Mousouraki to music
by Nikos Kiriakopoulos.
Based on Classical
Greek Dance (Ruby Ginner Method) the programme was in three parts. Part
one consisted of the Opening Ceremony and included 'The Touch of the
Olympic Flame', a dance with torches, and the 'Olympic Spirit'. Part
two comprised the athletes' warm-up, taking their vows, and several games
integrated with a ceremony honouring the athletes. The final part was
the closure of the games and included 'The Dance of Summer' and 'The
Dance of Peace'.
The aim of the
performance was to convey a message of peace, fellowship and friendship,
and encourage positive competition between the athletes. Also to further
the message of perfection in both mind and body which leads to the unity
of our personalities.
Maria Mousouraki
comments: "I believe that Greek people need to learn this very interesting
work of Ruby Ginner, and they have the potential to develop it in many
creative ways and fields, for example in Ancient Greek theatres, and
in the opening and closing of ceremonies for the 2004 Olympic Games in
Athens. But we need your help!"
Maria
Mousouraki
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Classical
Greek Dance Summer School 2001
A sunny Sunday
afternoon at Christs Hospital School in Horsham, West Sussex, the venue
for the Classical Greek Dance Summer School.
The children started
arriving laden with luggage and full of excitement, not only at meeting
new friends and learning new dance disciplines but also for being away
from 'Mum and Dad' for the whole week.
The teachers and
students, some with exams at the end of the week, arrived in cars full
of bags and books, slightly less eager to reveal their intentions and
expectations for the week. However any worry and trepidation was soon
forgotten as the first 'class' of the week got underway. After a hearty
supper the Summer School organiser Kay Ball took the reins for an evening
Greek class, where all ages and abilities got to know each other.
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| A
happy group of youngsters during the CGD Summer School 2001 |
The children not
only study Classical Greek Dance during the week at Christs Hospital
School, but also cover Jazz, Tap, National, drama and singing and workshop
and project classes. The childrens' Summer School culminates in a performance
for parents and friends in the exceptionally beautiful Christs Hospital
Dining Hall on the final afternoon.
The student and
teachers' course covers all the professional and vocational examination
requirements and runs in conjunction with the children, some students
forming their own timetable and working on both courses.
This year certainly
was one of the best yet. Scholarships were won by Louisa Hicks (pupil
of Joan Ward - Senior) and Rachael Beck (pupil of Sonia Bond and Juliet
Locks - Junior).
The exam results
were excellent and so too was the performance of the children on the
final afternoon. Thank you to all concerned for a wonderful week.
Karen
Collings
Photographs by Sonia Bond
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Classical
Greek Dance Notices
Easter Holiday
Course
This year includes
the launch of the New Vocational Video
Monday 8th April
2002
Imperial House, 22-26 Paul Street, London EC2A 4QE
Enquiries to Sonia
Bond 01992 522681
Choreographic
Competition
Saturday 11th May
2002
Imperial House, 22-26 Paul Street, London EC2A 4QE
From 2-6pm.
Enquiries to Penny
Childs
Ruby Ginner
Awards 2001
The Ruby Ginner
Results and photos to be posted soon.
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