27 November 2023
This landmark event took place on Sunday 5 November at Laban Building, Creekside in South East London, one of the country’s leading dance conservatoires and a fitting place to celebrate the life and work of Ruby Ginner, the creator of Classical Greek Dance who, like Rudolph Laban, was an early 20th-century innovator with a lasting legacy. Spending the day in this iconic building offered the young participants an inspiring insight into the life of a full-time vocational dance student and the afternoon’s performance in the state-of-the-art Laban theatre was a treat for audience and performers alike.
The morning focused on intensive Junior, Intermediate and Senior Classical Greek Dance creative workshops. Participants and workshop teachers worked incredibly hard to create, rehearse and refine three beautiful group dances in contrasting styles for the afternoon performance.
The Faculty and their special guests enjoyed a delicious lunch, complete with a celebratory centenary cake, before joining the audience in the theatre to watch a packed afternoon programme.
The performance began with onstage Junior and Senior Centenary Awards classes, beautifully taught by Examiner Carol Vasko, accompanied by the accomplished John Hoskins on the piano and expertly adjudicated by Lead Examiner Kay Ball and retired Examiner Sonia Bond. The standard was very high and all dancers were highly commended by the adjudicators, with winners receiving specially designed Gold, Silver and Bronze Centenary Medals.
Committee member Fiona Sheehan then presented a fascinating insight into the life and achievements of Ruby Ginner, illustrated by striking projected images tracing the history of the genre and enhanced by a series of well-performed dances explaining the various aspects of Classical Greek Dance, including lyrical, pyrrhic, bacchic, choric, ritual and tragic forms. To emphasise the continuing relevance of this genre, Fiona ended her presentation by welcoming the future of Classical Greek dance onto the stage, with the performers of the three group dances just created in the Laban Building studios opening the Gala Performance.
As a final showstopper, the Gala Performance concluded with seven strikingly different group pieces and a rousing finale demonstrating the full range of Classical Greek Dance’s expressive and theatrical potential.
Many congratulations to all the young dancers for their exhilarating performances and to their teachers for their dedication and impressive achievement. Sincere thanks are due to all the many helpers and experts who contributed to making the event possible, and most especially to the Classical Greek Committee who worked so hard in planning this once-in-a-lifetime celebration.
Winners: Junior Class Performance Awards
| Student | Teacher | School | |
| 1st place | Scout Mullen | Fiona Sheehan | Mayhew School of Dance |
| 2nd place | Dorris Garrod | Fiona Sheehan | Mayhew School of Dance |
| 2nd place | Grace Cann | Fiona Sheehan | Mayhew School of Dance |
| 2nd place | Sophie Burnham | Lucy Pohl | Buckhurst Hill and Woodford School of Dancing |
| 3rd place | Tilly Annable | Fiona Sheehan | Mayhew School of Dance |
| 3rd place | Isabella Holton | Fiona Sheehan | Mayhew School of Dance |
| 3rd place | Sophie Hawes | Fiona Sheehan | Mayhew School of Dance |
Winners: Senior Class Performance Awards
| Student | Teacher | School | |
| 1st place | Beatriz Kingsmill-Smith | Fiona Sheehan | Mayhew School of Dance |
| 2nd place | Lili Skye Howe | Amanda Wilkins | Kilburn School of Dance |
| 2nd place | Piper Mullen | Fiona Sheehan | Mayhew School of Dance |
| 2nd place | Ques-li De Bruin | Fiona Sheehan | Mayhew School of Dance |
| 3rd place | Holly McAlindon | Amanda Wilkins | Kilburn School of Dance |
| 3rd place | Lucie Coombes | Fiona Sheehan | Mayhew School of Dance |
| 3rd place | Raphaela Harrow | Amanda Wilkins | Kilburn School of Dance |
Participating Schools
| School | Teacher |
| Academy Theatre Arts | Helen Leek |
| Buckhurst Hill and Woodford School of Dancing | Lucy Pohl |
| Fusion Arts Academy | Joanna Willey |
| Guernsey Classical Greek | Lucy Stubbington |
| Joanna Vowles School of Dance | Joanna Vowles |
| Karen Blackburn Dance Academy (KBDA) | Sally Brenner/Karen Blackburn |
| Ker-Mel School of Dance | Alison Gaterell |
| Kilburn School of Dance | Amanda Wilkins |
| Mayhew School of Dance | Fiona Sheehan |
| Music Box | Miffy Lane |
| Sussex Dance Studios | Pippa Broadway |
| Timestep Academy of Dance | Sarah Williams |
| Yasmin Taylor Academy of Dance | Yasmin Taylor-Hazzard |
