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Australia
Revisited
Pamela Eddleston and Gilli O’Connell report
on a successful tour and some vibrant dancing
Legend
has it that if you drink the water from the Murrumbidgee
River you are bound to return. Well, I did drink the
water 20 years ago and, true to the legend, I have returned
several times even though this last absence has lasted
for several years.
It
was so good to be back in Australia to see former colleagues
and students and how they have developed in the dance
world. I can happily report that in true ‘Ozzie’
style dedicated ISTD teachers have embraced the Modern
Theatre and Tap syllabus with energy and enthusiasm,
with all the ‘go for it’ we have come to
expect from down under.
Lots
of talent, very clever choreography and fresh attack
was evident on my tour of New South Wales, Melbourne
and Cairns; such a wonderful addition to our global
dance community.
The
highlight of my tour was conducting the new Advanced
2 Modern syllabus in Sydney where energetic young teachers
soaked up every movement and every word, loving every
moment.
This
creative exchange is what we are all about and it makes
it all worthwhile. Australian dance is vibrant and we
must promote and nurture it.
Pamela
Eddleston
Advanced
2 in Australia
For
many years, I have greatly admired our lecturer Pamela
Eddleston. It was with great enthusiasm that we (the
Sydney Splitlets) embarked upon our Advanced 2 Modern
course journey.
What a wonderful, fresh, inspiring new syllabus! It
is so exciting to be able to see where the work goes
and how it will help to produce well rounded, capable,
thinking dancers. To have someone of Pamela’s
calibre teach us was something that we will always cherish.
Thank you to the team at the ISTD for creating this
lovely work. Thank you to Claire Buckley for organising
the course and thank you to Pamela for her inspiration,
depth of knowledge and guidance.
Gilli O'Connell |
