It was with the usual excitement and nervousness that we prepared (over just two week-ends) for the fourteenth annual Princess Margaret Ballet Competition.
Each year, it seems that expectations are higher and with six judges (instead of the usual four) on the adjudicating panel we set about with great determination and a lot of support from Mrs Elphinstone, form teachers, governors, bursary department, facilities and huge,huge, hugely by parents, to succeed in our challenge.
All of the competitors adore their ballet so dancing with joy is not a problem unless of course the steps and the rhythms are hard! They were! However as readers will see from the photograph of worn out shoes, we practised and practised!
Our programme of dance consisted of the usual Defile when all 39 competitors present themselves to the judges and audience after which the juniors danced to the Nursery Suite of Howard Blake and the seniors presented a ‘specially arranged barre to the
music of Shostakovich. Then, what the children describe as ‘real ballet’ there followed,
Chickens from La Fill Mal Gardee, Red Riding Hood and the Wolf and Cats from The Sleeping Beauty, Mice from The Tales of Beatrix Potter, Friends and the Doll from Coppelia. All pieces having special twists to the story-telling giving great entertainment to all those watching. Finally, the seniors danced most movingly, a new piece in memory of our beloved, long serving caretaker, Gordon McNeil, who died earlier this year.
All in all our programme was delivered beautifully by the competitors and the results can be seen in the accompanying photographs.
We are always amazingly lucky to be supported on this unique evening by the Royal Ballet School and English National Ballet School who send their students to dance for us and perfectly complete a wonderful evening.
I must end by once again saying what a lucky school we are to be able to have the support of important people in the world of ballet and most especially Sir Peter Wright CBE whom I care for deeply. The real reward for all the competitors is to be able to say, in years to come,
‘he came to my school and I danced for him’.
Valerie Hitchen
Prizewinners
The Lady Sarah Chatto Coronet – My-Lan (Year 1)
HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, Silver Rose Bowl – Luisa (Year 3)
The Sophie Le Roex Junior School Prize – Erin (Year 3)
The Linley Fonteyn Bequest – Rosie (Year 5)
HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, Silver Salver – Delphine (Year 6)
The Antoinette Sibley Senior School Prize – Thalia (Year 8)
The Darcey Bussell Pointe Shoes were awarded to Year 2
The Adjudicating Panel
Mark Annear
Tracy Saunders
Sir Peter Wright CBE
Carolyn Parker
Susan Robinson
Michelle Attfield MBE
