Dulcie Howes
Encyclopedia
Dulcie Howes was a South African ballet dancer, considered the prima ballerina assoluta
, in her time, of South African ballet. She was born in Mossel Bay
, near Cape Town
.
Howes was the daughter of Justice Reed Howes, who immigrated to South Africa at the end of the South African War, and Muriel Alice Lind. He was the headmaster of Oudtshoorn Boys High School
but after his marriage he moved to Cape Town
where he practised as an advocate.
She was one of the first pupils of Herschel Girls School
when it opened in 1922. She left South Africa to train in London, where she studied Cechetti method with Margaret Craske, mime with Tamara Karsavina
, and Spanish dancing with Elsa Brunelleschi; she joined Anna Pavlova's company, touring across Europe
in 1927.
She returned to South Africa in 1930 and opened a ballet school in Rondebosch
to teach ballet
, ballroom
and Spanish dancing
. The school was later moved to the College of Music
which led to the founding of the UCT Ballet School in 1932. In the period 1932 to 1952, she also choreographed 30 original ballets including La Famille, Vlei Legend, Bach Suite and The Enchanted Well.
In 1935, she was appointed Director of the Little Theatre and established the UCT Ballet Company.
In 1950, the Dulcie Howes Ballet Trust Fund was established to fund dancers to study abroad and to sponsor guest artists to South Africa.
In 1965, the UCT Ballet Company became the CAPAB (Cape Performing Arts Board) Ballet Company (and has since been renamed the Cape Town City Ballet Company
) but Dulcie Howes remained as artistic director until 1969 when she retired. In 1972, she also retired as principal of the UCT Ballet School.
She married Guy Cronwright, Managing Director of the Cape Times
in London
in 1937 and had two daughters, Amelia and Victoria. Her daughter, Victoria Cawood, is currently the executive chairman of Cape Town City Ballet
.
Prima ballerina assoluta
Prima ballerina assoluta is a rank or title given to notable female ballet dancers. To be recognised as a prima ballerina assoluta is a very rare honour, reserved only for the most exceptional soloists, usually those who have achieved international acclaim....
, in her time, of South African ballet. She was born in Mossel Bay
Mossel Bay
Mossel Bay is a harbour town of about 130,000 people on the Southern Cape of South Africa. It is an important tourism and farming region of the Western Cape Province...
, near Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
.
Howes was the daughter of Justice Reed Howes, who immigrated to South Africa at the end of the South African War, and Muriel Alice Lind. He was the headmaster of Oudtshoorn Boys High School
CP Nel Museum
CP Nel Museum is an ostrich museum on 3 Baron van Rheede Street in the town of Oudtshoorn in South Africa.The building, formerly the Boys High School of Oudtshoorn, was designed in 1906 by a local architect Charles Bullock. Its green domed sandstone facade is considered one of the finest examples...
but after his marriage he moved to Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
where he practised as an advocate.
She was one of the first pupils of Herschel Girls School
Herschel Girls School
Herschel Girls' School is a private, boarding and day school for girls, located in Claremont, a southern suburb of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa.-History:...
when it opened in 1922. She left South Africa to train in London, where she studied Cechetti method with Margaret Craske, mime with Tamara Karsavina
Tamara Karsavina
Tamara Platonovna Karsavina was a famous Russian ballerina, renowned for her beauty, who was most noted as a Principal Artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet and later the Ballets Russes of Serge Diaghilev...
, and Spanish dancing with Elsa Brunelleschi; she joined Anna Pavlova's company, touring across Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 1927.
She returned to South Africa in 1930 and opened a ballet school in Rondebosch
Rondebosch
Rondebosch is one of the Southern Suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa. It is primarily a residential suburb, with a medium-size shopping area, a small business district as well as the main campus of the University of Cape Town.-History:...
to teach ballet
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performance dance, that originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, and which was further developed in France and Russia as a concert dance form. The early portions preceded the invention of the proscenium stage and were presented in large chambers with...
, ballroom
Ballroom
A ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated purpose of which is holding formal dances called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions contain one or more ballrooms...
and Spanish dancing
Flamenco
Flamenco is a genre of music and dance which has its foundation in Andalusian music and dance and in whose evolution Andalusian Gypsies played an important part....
. The school was later moved to the College of Music
South African College of Music
The South African College of Music, abbreviated as SACM, is a department of the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Cape Town. It is located on the University's Lower Campus in Rondebosch, Cape Town.-Study opportunities:...
which led to the founding of the UCT Ballet School in 1932. In the period 1932 to 1952, she also choreographed 30 original ballets including La Famille, Vlei Legend, Bach Suite and The Enchanted Well.
In 1935, she was appointed Director of the Little Theatre and established the UCT Ballet Company.
In 1950, the Dulcie Howes Ballet Trust Fund was established to fund dancers to study abroad and to sponsor guest artists to South Africa.
In 1965, the UCT Ballet Company became the CAPAB (Cape Performing Arts Board) Ballet Company (and has since been renamed the Cape Town City Ballet Company
Cape Town City Ballet
The Cape Town City Ballet Company, formerly known as the CAPAB Ballet Company, is based in Cape Town, South Africa.-History:The Cape Town City Ballet originates from the UCT Ballet Company, which was established by Dulcie Howes in 1934. This became the CAPAB Ballet Company under the directorship...
) but Dulcie Howes remained as artistic director until 1969 when she retired. In 1972, she also retired as principal of the UCT Ballet School.
Awards
She received many awards in her lifetime including: Cape Tercentenary Foundation Award in 1953, Cecchetti Gold Medal in 1969, the SA Academy for Arts and Sciences gold medal in 1970 and an Honorary Doctorate in Music by UCT in 1976.She married Guy Cronwright, Managing Director of the Cape Times
Cape Times
The Cape Times is an English language morning newspaper owned by Independent News & Media and published in Cape Town, South Africa. The first edition of the newspaper was published on 27 March 1876 by then editor Frederick York St Leger...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1937 and had two daughters, Amelia and Victoria. Her daughter, Victoria Cawood, is currently the executive chairman of Cape Town City Ballet
Cape Town City Ballet
The Cape Town City Ballet Company, formerly known as the CAPAB Ballet Company, is based in Cape Town, South Africa.-History:The Cape Town City Ballet originates from the UCT Ballet Company, which was established by Dulcie Howes in 1934. This became the CAPAB Ballet Company under the directorship...
.
External links
- http://www.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/index.php?html=/mss/newaids/BC1101.HTM&msscollid=352 The Dulcie Howes Papers at the UCT Library
- http://www.answers.com/topic/dulcie-howes?cat=entertainment Dulcie Howe at Answers.com