ERIC Number: EJ1272335
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0004-9484
EISSN: N/A
Bare Feet in the Ballroom: The First Demonstration in Australia of Dalcroze Eurhythmics, 1919
Oam, Joan Pope
Australian Journal of Music Education, v53 n2 p3-12 2020
The "West Australian" of June 1919 contains a detailed account of a 'novel educational method'. It was the first public demonstration of the Eurhythmics of Jaques-Dalcroze in Australia. It was held in Government House Ballroom, under the patronage of His Excellency, the Governor of Western Australia, and Lady Ellison-MacCartney. It was presented by Geraldton-born, Irene Wittenoom, who was the first Australian to graduate from the three-year course at the London School of Dalcroze Eurhythmics. The program included rhythmic movement and musical examples, shown by young children, school children, kindergarten teacher training students and adults whom Wittenoom had been teaching during the past months. Modelled on the demonstrations given by M. Emile Jaques-Dalcroze in which Wittenoom had participated in England and Europe, this paper poses the question whether it created a pathway for others in Australia to follow. The "West Australian" noted that, from first to last it was impossible not to be influenced by the beautiful purpose running through all the harmony of movement and music. Each exercise of their limbs and minds and senses, for all were brought into vital play, gave them a positive joy. The Address was given to a large gathering of distinguished Western Australians, by Cecil Andrews, the Director of Education. The only recorded copy of the program is now held in the State Library of Western Australia.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Movement Education, Music Education, Educational History, Dance, Dance Education, Teaching Methods
Australian Society for Music Education. P.O. Box 5, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia. Tel: +61-3-9925-7807; e-mail: publications@asme.edu.au; Web site: http://www.asme.edu.au
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A