Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-07-28
This BuNerinq
Wins q First
BY JUDY SCRIBNER
Star Special Writer

BY JUDY SCRIBNER
Star Special Writer
An eye-catching ad ap-
peared recently in Time, The
New Yorker, and Holiday. A
young ballerina in black
tights is posed in reverence"
as If in the finale of q dance.
She's on board an ocean
liner - and the shadow of
her silhouette as she bows to
the deck is cast on the
wooded Stats.
The young lady is 19-year-
old Sheila Folstein of Silver
Spring and the Royal Acad-
envy of Dancing. Gracious
and poised, this reporter was
amused when NJ said Of her
life in Londoh-k"I get along
all right If I seay to myself
and try not tt be the ugly
American"
After spending a year in
the Upper School at the
Royal Academy her dream
has come true. She is the
first American recipient of a
teachers apprenticeship of
the famous school of dance.
This award is annually be-
slowed. Ordinarily the re-
cipient would be British
and the rarity of this choice
puts the director of the RAD,
who selected her, in some
what Of q unique position.
Some explanations are called
for.
Meanwhile, for Sheila's
purposes, she's In the best
position In the world. Her
dream has been to teach
since she was Is. 81 know
what is right, and I want to
teach others what Is right"
she says.
Sole Purpose
Her singleness of purpose
was stated when anticipating
the fall: at will be hard
work but worth 1t a
thousand times over, I'm
sure. What's most impor-
tant, I'll be learning all the
time, just soaking in what
I want most of ALL"
THE best thing is
I'll be right in there teach
ing under these excellent in
structors," she adds.
The story Of her surprise
appointment Is this: She
went to the principals office
to ask what she should do
next to train for teaching
ballet. Should I go else
where, or should I stay here
for more intensive train
ing?" she asked.
The next day she was
called into the office of Ar
mold Haskell, CHE, direc-
tor of the Royal Ballet
School.
Several days later her par
-ents, Mr.. and Mrs. Morton
Folstein of Silver Spring, re-
ceived the following letter:
I'VE would like to offer
your daughter Sheila the OPP
portunity to work at the
Royal Ballet School at White
Lodge, as pupil assistant, for
one year from September
1868 until July 1854"
"She would be boarded
during term time and given
$3.50 spending money for the
year. She would be able to
continue with some classical
classes at the Upper School
and any teaching that she
might undertake would be
done under supervision"
I'VE believe that given the
right girl, with a personality,
initiative and real teaching
vocation, this experience
should prove of the greatest
value"
I'VE hope that you will see
your way to allow Sheila to
undertake these duties, as we
believe that she has the nec-
essary qualifications"
AS a regular member of the
Upper School q great deal Of
study and hard work was re-
quired. Sometimes I studied
from early morning until late
at night" she says. All Of
this work she found exhili-
arating, as revealed In one OF
her letters to her parents
&c. / learn more about
technique, movement, and the
artistry Of the dance every
day. :"
II this was fun, then
Sheila with her single goal
should be thrilled In Septem-
Der. Her new duties will be
quite varied. Besides her
studies, she will assist the
teachers Of the lower school.
She will live at White Lodge
(the lower school dormitory,
which was the former sum-
mer home Of the Royal
Family bequeathed to the
RAD In 1850, fulfill adj
ministratiye dllties con. |