Classical Greek Dance Festival Finals

The Classical Greek Dance Association holds a ‘Festival’ competition every two years. The first Festival took place in 1948 and was very much a celebration of Classical Greek Dance. Some 62 years later the event now has a more competitive nature – but is still very much a celebration of the wonderful dance form that is Classical Greek.

Festival welcomes any entrant, providing the dancers are performing using the Classical Greek Dance technique (Ruby Ginner Method). Thus, it makes no difference if the dancers have achieved an ISTD qualification in Classical Greek Dance or not. The finalists are selected from dancers who compete in four regional heats. This year, the heats took place in Kettering, Warsash, Birmingham and East Grinstead. The heats are adjudicated by senior Classical Greek examiners (usually also Committee members) in order that a high standard of technique, performance and quality is assured. Obviously, the majority do not make it to the Finals competition. However, we are always impressed by the amount of hard work and commitment shown by each and every one of the dancers and, as such, congratulate every dancer, teacher and parent(s) who provided the motivation, encouragement and finance necessary to take part.

In every competition there must be winners and losers. We hope that those who did not make the Finals enjoyed the experience of taking part. Those that did make it had the fantastic opportunity to dance at the artsdepot, London. This is a lovely venue where the staging really helps to showcase the dancers.

The adjudicators for the day were Miss June Hornby and Mr Robert Harrold. Miss Hornby is a very experienced teacher and adjudicator. Somewhat poignantly, Miss Hornby learnt her Classical Greek from Pamela de Waal who recently passed away. It was fitting then, that Miss Hornby was the first adjudicator to award a new trophy in Miss Pam’s name. Joining Miss Hornby was Mr Robert Harrold, who really needs no introduction! Robert has been an avid supporter of Classical Greek for many years and so we were delighted when he agreed to adjudicate our Special Awards, which he did in his own typically witty way.

The standard of the work this year was excellent. Our technique seems to be going from strength to strength, with new schools entering the competition each time. The group sections are always a pleasure to watch for the diverse range of themes and styles they show. In fact the whole day is a chance to sit back and experience the rich diversity of movement that makes Classical Greek what it is.

Finally – the acknowledgments. Sincere thanks to the artsdepot staff that were there to help on the day. Thank you to the team for running things backstage. A special mention to those who turn up every year to do the tedious but essential jobs with patience and good grace, namely, Pippa Garner, Michelle and Lee Mitchell, Lorna Rookledge and Francis Vasko.

Carol Vasko

 

Results

Duet, 10 and Under

First place: Lottie Hodges & Jade Marris, Lullaby for the World (Mayhew School)

Second place: Savannah Ffrench & Maria Telnikoff, In Harmony (Dupont School)

Third place: Caitlin Godfrey & Lia Toon, Sprites at Play (Dupont School)

 

Solo, 13–15 Years

First place: Amber Morris, World of Wonder (Academy Dance)

Second place: Kirsty Ingram, Electric Storm (Kilburn School)

Third place: Carina Howard, Freedom (Roshe School)

Third place: Daisie Downer, Remembrance (Kilburn School)

Third place: Fern Quinn, Evening Falls (Dupont School)

 

Trio/Quartet, 10 and Under

First place: Savannah Ffrench, Lucy Kinsley & Maria Telnikoff, Butterflies (Dupont School)

Second place: Emily May Palmer, Grace Brooks & Alexandra Ratcliffe, Blynk & Wynk & Nod (Kilburn School)

Third place: Lauren Pilkington, Zia McCrossen & Emily Sargent, Summer Time (Dupont School)

 

Trio/Quartet, 11–14 Years

First place: Kathleen Brenner, Sophie Dipper & Stephanie Day, Eris, Goddess of Discord & Strife (Sue Merrett School)

Second place: Isobel Knight, Morgana Byworth & Tilli Orton, Children of the Sea (Dupont School)

Third place: Amy Lawrence, Eleanor Ayre, Ruth Murphy & Kaitlin Molloy, The Four Winds (Mayhew School)

 

Solo, 16 and Over

First place: Shaunagh Stomes, Maenad Dance for Dionysos (Dupont School)

Second place: Emma Robinson, Terpsichore (Avril Earl School)

Third place: Chloe Wheeler, God of Winter (Eastbourne Academy)

Third place: Rosie Tuttle, Lost Soul (Dupont School)

 

Duet, 11–14 Years

First place: Lucy Renouf & Kristina Hewitt, The Battle (Roshe School)

Second place: Kathleen Brenner & Sophie Dipper, She’s Calling Me (Sue Merrett School)

Third place: Jennifer Brenner & Samantha Clay, Poppies (Sue Merrett School)

 

Junior Groups

First place: Spring Returns to the Woodland Glade (Mayhew School)

Second place: Prayer (Academy Dance)

Third place: Fairies of the Sea (Kilburn School)

 

Senior Groups

First place: Out of the Depths I Cry to Thee (Dupont)

Second place: Tears in Heaven (Yasmin Taylor Academy)

Third place: The Pleiades (Mayhew School)

 

Solo, 10–12 Years

First place: Morgana Byworth, Joy (Dupont School)

Second place: Rhiannon Walls, Where My Soul Can Sing & My Heart Can Dance (Dupont School)

Second place: Olivia Downer, Springtide (Kilburn)

Third place: Tanisha Brown, Spartan Girl at the Gymnopaedia (Dupont School)

Third place: Emily Pohl, Woodland Nymp (Buckhurst Hill & Woodford School)

 

Duet, 15–18 Years

First place: Lily Davies & Amber Morris, The Golden Game (Academy Dance)

Second place: Natasha Jelley & Fern Quinn, To The River Flows (Dupont School)

Third place: Sophie O’Brien & Emily Hawksby, Gemini – The Twins (Kilburn School)

 

Intermediate Groups

First place: Dionysian Procession (Roshe School)

Second place: Avatar (Kilburn School)

Third place: Remembrance (Yasmin Taylor Academy)

 

Solo, 9 and Under

First place: Lauren Halil, Cupid (Buckhurst Hill & Woodford School)

Second place: Laura Marsh, The Rainbow Fairy (Yasmin Taylor Academy)

Third place: Jennifer Brenner, Whisper of the Naiad (Sue Merrett School)

Third place: Caitlin Godfrey, Rainbow Sprite (Dupont School)

 

Trio/Quartet, 15–18 Years

First place: Jessie Waterfield, Daisie Downer, Kirsty Ingram & Abi Crofts, In Exultation (Kilburn School)

Second place: Sarahjane Earl, Tiffany Iliff & Eleanor Tollan, The Furies – Winged Spirits of Vengeance (Mayhew School)

Third place: Nimika Patel, Shaunagh Stones & Rosie Tuttle, A Gift of Life (Dupont School)

 

Group Choreography

First place: Earth (Roshe School)

Second place: Paidomazoma (Avril Earl School)

Third place: Cirque (Jean Butterworth School)

 

Boys Solo, 9 and Under

First place: Christian Knight, Looking for Trouble (Dupont School)

 

10–12 Years

First place: Joseph Head, Preparing for the Olympics (Yasmin Taylor Academy)

 

13–15 Years

First place: William Lewis, A Call to Arms (Dupont School)

 

16 and Over

First place: Jak Skelly, Exhilaration (Dupont School)

 

Special Awards

The Doris McBride Trophy for the most inspiring use of Greek Ideals and Technique was awarded to Lucy Andic of the Kilburn School of Dance

The Freda Crockett Costume Award for the most appropriate costume was awarded to Kirsty Ingram of the Kilburn School of Dance

The Nancy Sherwood Trophy for the entry which best portrays a subject from nature was awarded to the trio ‘Butterflies’ entered by the Dupont Dance Stage School

The Irene Mawer Trophy for the most dramatic performance was awarded to the duet ‘The Battle’ entered by the Roshe School of Dance

The Rosina Wenham Shield for the most memorable performance other then a winning dance was awarded to the duet ‘She’s Calling Me’ entered by the Sue Merrett School