CECCHETTI INTERNATIONAL CLASSICAL BALLET Newsletter No. 8, 2002 Mission Statement: • To foster the development of the method • To develop training for the future • To keep alive the essence of the method’s historical tradition • To raise the profile of the method world-wide • To encourage the profession and the art of dance by interaction between members and the international dance profession • To enhance the status of dance in the context of the arts and education CHAIRMAN’S LETTER What a difficult year we have had, all the attendant publicity and interest way in the future. at Cecchetti International Classical Bal- which this will engender. We will shortly Please note that Robina Beard has let. I was disappointed that some of our be putting a proposal to all our original moved. Her new address is: founding corporate members found it FCM’s regarding the competition, and we 79 Midgeley Street, Corrimal necessary to resign from the fledgling trust that you will consider sending your 2518 NSW Australia organisation, but we intend to continue young Cecchetti dancers to compete, re- Tel:/Fax: 02-4283-2860 on towards an international Cecchetti as- membering those beautiful young men Email unchanged: sociation in which all those with alle- and women who competed in Australia. [email protected] giance to the Cecchetti Method can be In light of the recent terrible catas- Both fax and email have had a pe- involved in some way. trophes which have engulfed the world, riod of being “out of order” but are up We are all very grateful to Sheila and which seem to be changing the way and running again. Kennedy for this newsletter. It was the we think and live, I think it is important newsletter that originally brought us all to continue with our lives and our plans. Comments, suggestions, articles together, and it is heartening to see it con- Cecchetti International Classical Ballet and photographs, worldwide Cecchetti tinue, with such interesting articles. intends to progress with its plans for in- pioneers, for the next newsletter are wel- Our next task is to consider the next corporation, and we hope to be able to come at any time. Please send to Cecchetti International Competition and involve all our original FCM’s in some [email protected] Upcoming events THE CECCHETTI 2002 – 2003 LEGACY VIDEO/ Italy International Cecchetti Summer School DVD PROJECT for students & teachers An update from Veronica Tennant, October 27th 2002 June 28 - July 5, Civitanova Marché, Italy As communicated over recent months; I have committed International Faculty an extensive proportion of time (and expense) during the months Classical Ballet, Repertoire, Pas de Deux, of September/October - and continuing-into November — to Pointe Work, Contemporary Dance, Spanish apply to the Monaco Dance Forum, held from December 10 - Dance, Classes for children from Grade IV 14, 2002 in Monaco. Contact: Stefania Sansavini, • This: 1 / Performance Gathering, 2 / Prominent Audition of President of Danzare Cecchetti ANCEC Italia Senior students for all international major companies; AND; email [email protected] the 3 / IMZ Dance Screen a competition for dance films and videos - is the most prestigious and comprehensive interna- Britain tional event centering on dance - It is only held every 2 years. Junior Summer School & Students’ Illustrious Juries, Artistic Directors from the worlds major Summer Course companies, plus the companies themselves, and several July 26 - Aug 2, Tring, UK Teachers attend and offer a week of performances, competi- Teachers’ Summer School tions and forums. August 2 – 9, Chichester, UK • This year, Monaco Dance Forum together with the Banff Contact: Daphne Cooper, 30 Woodmere Av. TV Festival, is inaugurating an international PITCH session Watford, Herts WD24 7LN UK for new Dance Video, Film, Television and DVD projects. •Ten successful applicants will be chosen to present/pitch their USA project to a formidable gathering of international program- CCA International Summer School mers, sponsors, broadcasters. Everyone of influence and Hope College, Holland, Michigan USA power, in all markets who has a mandate and or venue/out- July 6-19 (students), July 13-19 (teachers) let for film, video, dvd - DANCE-based - will be there. They Gillian Hurst teaching Cecchetti syllabus will advise on the financing plan, and in some cases become & Flamenco. Contact: involved. This is how international co-productions begin their Gail Choate-Pettit, [email protected] deal-making process. Visit CCA’s new website www.cecchetti.org •I have been putting together the lengthy application which 2 also requires letters of financial sup- Marche committing to hosting the is a thick file of endorsement accu- port - totaling one third of the budget production cast and crew for the 2 mulated, including from The Rudolf - as proof of the seriousness of the week shooting period. The accommo- Nureyev Foundation in London. project. The regulations clearly state dation, food, administration, and lo- • Ross Alley has been working like a that ‘proof’ will be accepted in letter cations costs translate into line items Trojan to gain an on camera interview form with the statement - should the in the budget which would more or with Dame Alicia Markova - to our rest of the financing be raised less bring us to the 1/3 projected tar- knowledge, the last living student of clearly high-lighted. get of raised financing. Enrico Cecchetti. Ross has generously • The deadline was September 30th: • Since the Italian letter has been prom- offered to take on a portion of the up- I was given until October 15th to pull ised as forthcoming, Stefania has ad- front costs of the interview. The pro- in the financing letters of confirma- vised me to send the 2 Cecchetti So- duction budget if/when established, tion. ciety letters which I did on Thursday, would reimburse him. • Raymond, Jean Fulton, and I have Oct. 24. As you can see we are past •I firmly believe that this is our single been in close consultation. the deadlines, but I am counting on chance to really make THE •I have to date; the commitment from my personal reputation, success with CECCHETTI LEGACY VIDEO/ Cecchetti Society Inc. USA - for award-winning dance films and cred- DVD PROJECT on the level it de- $33,000 US, and from Mary-Jane ibility to gain us the extra time. SO- serves, and was conceived by Duckworth, Chair of Cecchetti Soci- • This is where we are. Of course in Raymond and so many of you. ety Trust for £4,000 sterling, both with addition, there are the splendid letters November update: the qualifying clause should the rest of support for the project, from an ar- a further $20,000 US has just been of the financing be raised - Thank ray of Artistic Directors of the world’s donated! you! best companies together with the of- •We are awaiting a letter from Erminio fer of their dancers. The Societies Chosen to be presented December 10 at Marinelli, Mayor of Civitanova have sent enthusiastic letters and there the Monaco Dance Forum. CECCHETTI PIONEERS We are compiling a collection, please send us suggestions Lucie Saronova of Cecchetti following her return from the given during 1917 in India; leading on to 1900 - 1988 Southern Hemisphere tour. It was on her her Australian debut at the Tivoli The- by Athol Willoughby O.A.M. 9th birthday that her mother took her atre, Melbourne. The Company Manager daughter Lucie for her first dancing les- for this tour being Mr. T.J. Holt father of Madam Saronova was the founding son. For 3 years she studied with Paul our future Prime Minister Harold Holt, organiser and first chairman of the Aus- Valentine, a French dancing master of re- through whose influence the Australian tralian Cecchetti Society Branch of the pute who had settled in London; at the Ballet was founded in 1962. Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing; same time she also took classes with the Before the end of 1919, “Little Lucie her term of office covering a record span Italian dancer Rita Zalmame thus receiv- Linda” as she had been known profes- of 37 years from 1934 - 1971. Born in ing an introduction to the Cecchetti set sionally became Lucie Saronova due to Mill Bank, London her associations with work. the vogue for Russian dancers. No dancer Australia go back to 1916 when she set A pupil of talent she was soon lead- without a Russian name would have been sail for a 3 year tour of Australasia and ing a busy life as a child performer in both able to gain employment for many years. the Far East with a company which re- pantomime and variety, the only venues It was in this same year that Madam volved around the talents of English ac- where English dancers could perform was accepted by the Maestro Cecchetti tress and variety star, Ada Reeves. prior to the First World War. Appearing for instruction in his famous method of Madam’s future husband, Mr. Harry as “Little Lucie”, she was soon being no- dance training, now that he had retired Jacobs, was the musical director and con- ticed by London critics who even in 1911 from touring and had settled in London ductor for the company. Although a stu- noted what were to become her strong to teach. dent of the Maestro Enrico Cecchetti, points as a dancer - namely a strong vir- Soon Saronova had a big decision to Madam was already a trained dancer and tuoso technique, coupled with much ver- make. After giving her one of the few well seasoned professional of some 8 satility. certificates awarded to his English pupils, years before joining the London classes Her first overseas performances were which proclaimed her right to teach his 3 method, Cecchetti arranged for an audi- force in dance training in all states of this return to some teaching methods she had tion with the famous director of “Les Bal- country.