AUDIO

Interview with Glenys Scandrett

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Date

28 Apr 2006 and 29 Apr 2006 - 28 Apr 2006 - 29 Apr 2006

By

Scandrett, Glenys Anne, 1938-

Reference

OHInt-0812-03

Description

Born in Westport, 1938. Discusses family background and family life in Westport - talks about moving to Dunedin. Refers to the family's history of dancing and music. Talks about beginning classes with Lily Stevens at the age of eight - recalls the studio and her classmates. Describes Lily's teaching style - mentions pianist Eli Gray Smith. Details the clothing and costumes she wore - mentions that pointe shoes had to be ordered from England at the time. Recalls Lily's character - discusses the influence she had on dancing in Dunedin. Talks about Lily's training and how she started teaching - mentions Anna Pavlova. Discusses Lily's choreography. Details the dances Lily choreographed for the Solo Seal exam - recalls dancing as a Shadow and describes the avant-garde nature of the costumes. Recalls the big recitals held at Mayfair Theatre.

Talks about going to study at the Borovansky School in Melbourne - mentions her teacher Martin Reubenstein. Talks about being fifteen and living in Melbourne. Discusses her reasons for returning to New Zealand after a year. Talks about her marriage and becoming a dance teacher - mentions Valerie Bailey and Erica Stevenson. Discusses teaching in Green Island - describes the studio she taught in. Talks about her teaching partnership with Dawn Robinson. Details the process of choreographing the dance competitions - talks about the importance of having live music accompaniment. Talks about feeling stifled by life in suburbia - discusses leaving it all behind. Discusses the challenge of juggling her art with being a wife and mother.

Talks about her reasons for giving up teaching in the 1970s - mentions leaving her marriage around this time. Discusses this new phase in her life - talks about finding a flat and working at the Fortune Theatre in Dunedin. Describes the response from family and friends. Discusses her reasons for moving to Australia. Talks about her work in the hotel industry. Mentions her daughters Jackie and Loryn. Talks about beginning teaching again upon her return to Dunedin - discusses the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus. Mentions Robyn Sinclair. Talks about teaching American Jazz Tap for the British Ballet Association - discusses the differences between the British Ballet Association and the Royal Academy of Dance. Talks about teaching in Invercargill - discusses the competitions her students dance in and how the sections are judged. Mentions the British Ballet Association Alicia Markarova Awards. Talks about the Bluff Oyster Festival which she has choreographed for the last four years - describes the terrible weather they had in the first two years. Talks about past themes - details one year when the children were dressed up as penguins and were blown off the stage by the wind.

Discusses the process of making up a dance - talks about finding the right music and the importance of the costume. Describes where she get inspiration for her choreography. Discusses the upcoming end-of-year recitals and talks about her possible retirement.

Abstracted by - Lyne Pringle

Interviewer(s) - Lyne Pringle

Arrangement: Tape numbers - OHC-014833 - OHC-014835

Quantity: 3 C60 cassette(s). 2.40 Hours and minutes Duration.

Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-5370.

Additional description