Gwenethe Walshe

By Peggy Spencer MBE

We are sorry to report that Gwenethe Walshe, member of the ISTD Grand Council and honorary member of the Latin American Faculty passed away in January.

Gwenethe was a petite lady who always wore very high heeled shoes. Her hair was styled and always immaculate, but in spite of her dainty appearance, she was dynamic. She cared passionately about the future of Latin dancing.

She loved all dancing, but was on the scene when Latin became popular both competitively and as an examination branch of the ISTD. She, and her then partner, Dimitri Petrides, demonstrated and lectured on the figures being used at the time

Through her committee work, which is where I came to know her well, she helped to form the Latin Technique, which went through many stages before it became acceptable for Professional Examinations.

Gwenethe worked very hard in her studio in Baker Street, where she trained so many teachers. She realised how important the correct music was, and during visits to South America on business, her husband, Frank would research for the authentic and original music for the Latin dances. This resulted in the fact that they built up a unique collection of music which was envied by all, especially when they used it at lectures and workshops.

Gweneth also visited South Africa and returned with the Kwela/Jive, which became very popular at the time.

Gwenethe gave so much of herself to building the present day Latin Scene and we will all miss that petite but dynamic character.

By Janet Clark

This diminutive red headed beauty, who was born with an insatiable love of dance, with talent in every atom of her being, became, on the evening of Saturday 21 st January 2006, very tired. Her little body had slowed down and by mid-morning the next day with the Australian sun shining brightly outside and the warmth of her sister Shirley and brother-in-law Donald beside her, peacefully passed away.

Gwenethe died as she had lived, with grace and beauty. Love and gratitude go with you Gwenethe from so very many people whose lives you touched.

Born in New Zealand and the eldest of three daughters, Gwenethe joined ballet class at three years old and was teaching ballet from the age of fourteen. As a young woman Gwenethe fell in love with the London dance scene and made London her home.

Throughout her long career Gwenethe gave loyal, dedicated service to the ISTD as committee member and Examiner. She worked ceaselessly for the betterment of the working teacher, to uphold the principles of the Society and for the development of dancing. She was a member of the ISTD Grand Council.

Gwenethe lectured world-wide countless times, never failing to please with her innovative variations. Always a balance of light and shade and, most importantly, her amalgamations inspired musicality in the dancer. The profuse number of variations, that were always a joy to dance, appeared to be created with ease. I am sure that some of you, like me, still see her in your mind's eye; an imposing dancer, petite, with a powerful crystal clear voice and beautiful English accent.

Gwenethe's charismatic personality helped create the amazing atmosphere that drew young dancers of the day to her Leinster Gardens Studio in Lancaster Gate, London. At her weekly Jive night for example, one felt a pulsating energy that gave a buzz no dancer could resist. These classes were more fun than I can express in words. So popular were they, there was barely room to move, but no one cared! Whatever and wherever Gwenethe taught during the whole of her life, this was the level of success that followed her. However, though her success with the general public was immense, her achievements in, and love of, teaching teachers was greater still. With her generosity of spirit she passed on her innate sense of dance and the teaching of dance to all who wished to learn, and there were many.

Gwenethe Walshe was a wonderful person who had a great life doing what she wanted to do; dancing and teaching dancing. Every aspect of her work was of the highest calibre but she never sought the limelight. Even so, she shone more brightly than the brightest star.

Dear Gwenethe, mentor and friend, you live on in our hearts and in our deeds.

By Vernon Kemp

When I came to London to study for higher qualifications there were four ‘Leading Ladies of Dance’: Josephine Bradley, Phyllis Haylor, Doris Lavelle, and Gwenethe Walshe. Gwenethe Walshe, the last of these London Ladies, passed away peacefully on January 22nd and so ends an era.

Gwenethe, a New Zealander, came to London to be presented at court, and, more importantly perhaps in her eyes, to study for her ISTD membership (Licentiate) with Alex Moore. Duly she qualified (she had been teaching in New Zealand since a teenager) and the first Gwenethe Walshe Studio opened its doors in 1938 in Baker Street - just around the corner from her last studio which I took over from Gwenethe only a few years ago.

By the outbreak of World War 2 Gwenethe had moved to the Palace Hotel overlooking Hyde Park. She undertook nursing duties in order to continue teaching and showed great bravery during the blitz. Her tales of this time were told with wry humour and humility as to her role I think she genuinely didn't realise how brave she had been ‘....it was just what one did’.

Always open to new ideas Gwenethe went with her sister Shirley to take lessons in Latin American with Pierre. Miss Bradley suggested she partner up with a young assistant of hers: Dimitri Petrides and together they were successful in the first Latin competitions. It is hard to imagine today that there was no Latin at Blackpool, the International had not started and The Star featured a competition in Rumba only. Building on this success Gwenethe and Dimitri became very popular as demonstrators and as coaches in the ‘new’ dances. To help develop the furtherance of Latin Dancing the All England Championships were instigated at this time.

Gwenethe joined the ISTD Latin Faculty committee very shortly after its formation and was soon a busy examiner. She had a keen eye both as a coach and a technician which naturally led to her becoming one of the leading trainers of teachers influencing the careers of so many teachers not only in the UK but worldwide. A popular lecturer and an innovator Gwenethe introduced English teachers to Kwela Jive from South Africa, Merengue, and Twist. She championed dances such as Mambo and Argentine Tango when they were virtually unknown in the profession.

Musical awareness and expression were important features in her work and in this she was supported by her devoted husband Frank. At a time when buying Latin American music was limited (and downloading not even a dream) Frank not only brought records back from his trips as a scientist to Europe USA and South America he played them on the best equipment available. The monthly competitions at Gwenethe's Melody Ballroom in North London were renowned for their ‘crystal clear sound’.

When you skip a generation there is often a great affinity and this in part explains the depth of friendship between Gwenethe and me. There are so many parts of my professional and personal life where I recognise Gwenethe's influence but the one element which is predominant is a searching for quality. She expected nothing less and would not understand why you would wish anything less of yourself. Always the consummate professional in public there was nevertheless a personal side with a wonderful sense of humour and a surprisingly strong laugh for such a petite lady! She enjoyed good food, especially home cooking, going to the theatre and walking around London which she had fully adopted as her home.

Gwenethe gave a lifetime of commit-ment to the profession and her influences in so many aspects of examination work and competitive dancing are myriad. Described in The Ballroom Dancing Times in 1958 as ‘a small dainty artistic and brainy package ... with a burning drive that will never let her down’ .... It didn't! You will be sorely missed Gwenethe.

Back to Top