Evening star., 1938-02-13
Explaining
Local
Dancers
Three Top Groups
Here May Need
Identifying
By Robert B. Phillips, Jr.
EST some confusion arise from
our recent enthusiastic but
cenera1izad nraise Of the growth

7 EST some confusion arise from
our recent enthusiastic but
generalized praise of the growth
- of the ballet and modern dance
around Washington. We would like
to point out that the city now has
two native dance groups. either one Of
which may be properly identified as
a. Washington ballet" One is the
Washington Civic Ballet, very much
in the embryonic stage Of develop
ment. but intended eventually to sup
ply a group Of trained dancers for
professional performances here. It's
sponsor Is the Community Center De-
partment, its instructor Mrs. Eliza
beth Giles.
The other is the Washington Bal
let Co.. Inc, which obtained its pa
pers Of incorporation only last week.
This unit has as its director Lisa
Gardiner. rs its business manager
Bess Davis Schreiner. as its trustees
Miss Gardiner, Woodlief Thomas and
Edward Wilson.
Offering free lessons to q group
necessarily limited to not more than
10, and probably to be reduced to
about IS members, the Washington
Civic Ballet project admittedly will
not materialize for two or more years.
The Washington Ballet Co., on the
other hand. plans to begin its pro-
fessional career not later than next
fall, as Miss Gardiner feels by that
time she will have assembled and CO.
ordinated the permanent group of IL
dancers necessary to her purposes.
This spring some Of the more ad-
vanced members will participate in
demonstration lectures in nearby
cities. and by fall the first of series
Between local appearance next win
ter the group will 60 on tour.
Another facet of activity on the
local scene is represented by the Wash
ington Dance Association, formed three
months ago also for the purpose of
furthering interest in the dance here.
This group proposes to achieve its
purpose by presenting outstanding
artists (the recent Doris Humphrey
Charles Weidman recital was it great
est coup of the current year, and by
sponsoring young dancers. The asso-
ciation extends its field to lectures,
demonstrations, ETC., and at present
has in store for the city and all
college concert, with the performers
coming from the dance clubs Of five
Washington colleges. Date, March rs.
Other feature events are to include q
session on the folk sources in the
American dance, with q "well-known
square dance caller" present for the
festivities, according to a pleasant
note received from Evelyn Davis, pres
ident of the association.
A MOTHER double-header week end
for dance patrons is promised on
February IS and 26, when the Jooss
Ballet and the dancers trained by
Eleanor Struppa at Randolph-Macon
College appear here. The Jooss COM
pany, European importation, is to be
seen at the National Theater on Friday
the 25th, at 4:30 pm, while the next
evening Miss Struppa brings her mod
ern performers to the Wardman Park
Theater at $50 O'Clock. The latter
performance is to be given under the
auspices of local alumnae of the RAN
dolph- Macon Women's College, for the
benefit of q fund maintained by them
to assist Washington students at the
college.
N1MURA, the japanese dancer, has
cancelled his engagement for q
recital here under the auspices Of the
Community Center Department on
March 23. Cancelled his whole Amer
ican tour, too. Reason: Anti-Japanese
sentiment in the cities he expected to
play. Juliet Deli, dramatic artist
slated February % on the Commu-
nifty Center series, also will not ap-
pear, according to an announcement
made by Arnold Lovejoy, manager Of
the series.
Aside to Mr.. Lovejoy-How about
bringing back Ballet Caravan for an
other engagement on one Of the dates
IN opsn b the above eancellations3