Later in 1954 I had a phone call from Sylvia’s ballet teacher asking me to allow Sylvia to teach some students. As Sylvia was only fifteen years old at that time I thought the idea was ridiculous. She was very busy with college studies and although ballet was her passion and joy, that, I felt was quite enough. Of course Sylvia was disappointed but I felt I had made the right decision. However, her teacher was not easily put off and she kept phoning at intervals to try to change my mind. She assured me that Sylvia was a born teacher and very skilled. Because Sylvia was so anxious to teach, I said, “Well, if you really want to do this then you must read and learn about anatomy to be able to understand how dancing affects the children’s feet and bodies.” I thought this might deter her but it didn’t. She studied and discussed it with her teacher who again prepared her, so eventually I said she could teach no more than two or three children at the beginning of the next year. We had just moved into a new house. The lounge walls had not been papered and there was no carpet on the floor, but the room was large enough for two and possibly three small children. On the chosen Saturday morning in February I noticed many cars stop near our house and commented, “I think our neighbours are having another tennis party.” Then to my amazement I saw a number of women and their daughters coming down our drive. “What on earth is happening?” I exclaimed. It was soon obvious that word had been passed round between the mothers and I think seven children arrived that day. My goodness, we were cramped but everyone seemed very happy and I was satisfied that Sylvia could teach very well. She was delighted with the children, but from that week she had to work in a hall, as fourteen children arrived on the second week and the class continued to grow. As the numbers quickly increased Sylvia soon found it difficult to handle the mothers because each wanted to show that their child was better than all the others. So Sylvia asked me if I would attend each lesson to help with the mothers. This I did and at the time I thought it would be quite easy as it was only once a week. But in no time the numbers grew and grew - what I hadn’t realised was that as each class completed one grade they went on to the next and another beginners class was needed! It was not too long before we found that we were working several days a week after school plus weekends. Sylvia prepared the children for the Royal Academy of Dancing examinations. Results were excellent and she opened two more branches. Each year the Studio presented a concert around a fairy story which Sylvia wrote, choreographed and designed the costumes. Then big decisions had to be made. All the children who received Honours in their exams were given solos. The ‘Highly Commended’ were given duo or trio dances, and she always included each child in at least one group dance. Some children with little rhythm were quite a problem and care was needed because they could easily spoil a group dance. But everything went well and the children had a lovely time. We chose the costume materials and the music. Each mother was given a pattern for the costume needed with full sewing instructions. Stage scenery and backdrops were made. Everyone was very excited. Then came the first Dress Rehearsal. Some mothers who couldn’t sew made a real hotch potch and one year a child even came with her tutu frills upside down!! So I had a very busy time helping to get the costumes wearable. One child aged seven years who was a beautiful little dancer always got Honours in her exam. She was given a solo dance and was also dancing in a trio with two of her friends. She arrived with her costume for the trio covered with sequins and beads which really stood out beside the other two whose costumes had been made according to instructions. These two were rather upset as their mothers couldn’t afford to buy all the sequins and beads that Margaret had. “Never mind,” I said, “I will see Margaret’s mother and request that she remove the surplus beads and sequins.” “Oh dear,” said Sylvia, “She won’t be willing to do that, she can be very difficult.” Next day I went to visit this lady. She was pleased to see me and said, “Isn’t Margaret’s costume beautiful?” and then quickly went on to change the subject. We had tea and pleasant talk and then as I was preparing to leave I said, “Now I must tell you why I came to see you. Margaret’s dress is not made according to the instructions and although I agree it is beautifully made, I must ask you to please remove the extra beads, so that the three girls all have similar costumes.” “Quite impossible!!” she replied. “It would take hours and I haven’t the time. In any case, why should I? My daughter will have all I can give her.” “Have you thought how the other two girls feel about this?” I asked. “They are not my problem. I shall do my best for Margaret,” she replied. “We do not restrict how many sequins and beads you put on Margaret’s dress for her solo,” I said, “But we have to look after all the children.” “Well, I’m not taking them off,” she said as she saw me to the door. “Then I’m sorry,” I replied sweetly, “but Margaret will not be in that dance. It will be a duo.” “You wouldn’t dare!!” she said. Then she looked keenly into my face and in a low voice said, “You would - wouldn’t you?” “I do hope that you can see why this is necessary,” I exclaimed as I walked away. Phew! I didn’t enjoy that! On the final Dress Rehearsal we waited anxiously to see whether Margaret’s dress had been altered. We were very fond of all the children and didn’t want them to feel hurt or upset. However, much to our relief Margaret’s costume was exactly as we had asked, so all was well. As well as those who had a passion for ballet, some children were sent by the local doctors to help their asthma, feet or other conditions, others came to improve their deportment. Some were hopeless dancers but naturally wanted to be in the concert, so we always managed to fit them into the programme. They all had a lovely time. It was so important to us that each child enjoyed taking part. We had many laughs as well as problems and I remember one little boy who had to bow when the girls curtsied. No matter how we worked on this he always managed to turn when he bowed to see what the girls were doing and ended by toppling the girl nearest to him. This caused a laugh and everyone enjoyed it. Margaret was a pupil for many years. She loved to dance. During these years her mother never spoke to me. Then one day I attended a big social event in Auckland with my husband and while I was talking with some friends, I felt a tap on the shoulder. Then someone whispered in my ear, “You were right, I can see that now.” Looking round I saw Margaret’s mother disappear in the crowd. I was amazed and very pleased. We never met again but the incident made me feel good. Another child was sometimes brought to class by her father who was usually drunk - even at 11am! Sometimes he was very noisy and liked to show off in front of the children trying to do an arabesque and disrupt the class. My job was to coax him and take him outside. So there was never a dull moment. It was a privilege to be with the children and have them come to talk to me. Classes were held nearly every afternoon and evening as well as weekends when exams were ahead or practice was needed for our concert. This went on for ten years. In 1963 Sylvia had a car accident and broke her back. I remember the difficulty I had to find suitable teachers to teach for the four months Sylvia was in hospital as well as visiting Middlemore Hospital every day to visit her. Finding something to occupy her mind in hospital was quite difficult as she had to lie flat on her back the whole time and could only move her arms. As part of the children’s exams they had to answer questions about the costumes used in the dances they did from other countries. We discussed this and as Sylvia had always enjoyed dressing dolls, I asked my sister in England to please send some beautiful dolls that I had seen advertised. While waiting for them to arrive, I bought three other smaller ones and then I shopped for suitable materials for her to make costumes for them, thinking it would interest her as well as being useful for the children to see. It was easier for them to remember the costumes the dolls wore than to learn the details from a book. My difficulty was finding suitable materials because the texture of the material as well as the colours had to be correct. She still has these dolls. Eventually she sold the studio and in 1966 took a year-long working trip to England. |
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