Putnam patriot., 1930-09-25
Patricia Putnam's $ Own Column.
Eater cu.t.f.an

Not only Pomfret, but all the lawns ' In Windhsm county take great nride
 m the success of Ester Gustafson,
 When ten years ago she danced in a pageant given in Pomfret, she. for the hrst time, realized that dancing was the medium, through which she could best express herself, and inter- pret what music meant to her; as she says, Dancing IS another form of music. l know the music I use Tor my dances as well as the player follow every note. True dancing is not incidental, not background for music, but absolutely a part of it." Those who have seen her dance real ize the truth of her statement. She first studied under Miss Beatrice Stevens, working each day in her studio in Pomfret; in fact to Miss Stevens should be given great credit, as she was Ester's inspiration as well as her first teacher. After working m Pomfret Miss Gustafson went to New York. where she studied with the Demshaws at Columbia and Barnard, later going to a summer school in England.
 When George Eastman, the nsSii- ester millionaire opened his school of The Dance and Dramatic Action, Ester Gustafson was chosen for the head of the Dance Department. At her first appearance in Rochester she was accompanied by the Rochester Symphony Orchestra.
 One of her notable appearances was at the Midsummer Festival at the Gutzon Borglum estate at Stam- ford, when she danced to the Grieg Ballade in G minor, giving a marvel ous interpretation of the spirit of the Morse people. Later she danced at Wanamaker's Auditorium in New York.
 Every winter she gives many reef tals in New York, Boston and other cities, but no matter what her enga- eements are, she each year, finds time to take the part of the angel in the Nativity Pantomine given in Pomfret just before Christmas; a personation unequaled for it's beauty and devo- tional spirit. Her appearance in The Merry Wives of Windsor, with Mrs. Fiske, Otis Skinner and Henrietta Crossman few years ago was a most artistic performance.
 During her career as a dancer she has had many and varied experiences. At one time she taught dancing at the Sarah Lawrence Junior College Tn Bronxville, New York. she also trained the girls in pageants at the Howe Marot School in Thompson and on one occasion danced there.
 At present she has a studio in New York, at the Studio Club, 37 East 62nd Street. where she has classes in and Classic Dancing, Cor rective Exercises, Body Development, Pantomine and Folk Dancing. She has many plans for the coming winter, will give a recital in New York the latter part of November. When talk ing with Miss Gustafson you are filled with enthusiasm for dancing and her method of interpreting music through 1t, also for her theories of life.
 Above all she advocates simple liv- ing. fresh air and exercise. She stresses the advantage of daily walk ing and condemns the professional and business women, who rush for the subway, or call taxi, when their work is over.
 To those who saw the recital given by her for the Nurses Home Fund at Carolyn Hall recently, it is not necessary to speak of the grace and beauty of her dancing. She is surely one of the most important of the many women of achievement from Wipdham county.