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Overview
This certificate was won by Marjorie Lee. Marjorie, known as Midge, learnt dancing with Miss Cressell Vaughan who taught ballet, tap and classical dance in Wellington and Lower Hutt. Luckily for Midge, Cressell Vaughan conveniently lived next door. Her mother played piano while they practiced during lessons.
Cressell Vaughan regularly advertised lessons and recitals in the newspaper. An advertisement in 1932 stated 'Dance Recital by Pupils of Miss Cressell Vaughan. An Exhibition of Operatic, Classical and Tap Dances and Ballets. Also a display by the Tiny Tots. Town Hall Concert Chamber'. Other advertisements promote entries or results in the 'Competitions'.
Midge performed in public recitals and competitions. Her certificates, including a certificate for highly commended issued by the 'Wellington Competitions Society' when she was 8, and this example, document her involvement in this popular childhood activity.
Dance, elocution, speech, pianoforte, violin and vocal competitions were an important part of New Zealand children's lives from 1902, when the first two-week season of 'Competitions' were held in Dunedin. By 1916 there were over a hundred different categories that you could enter and in the 1940s three thousand entries were received. (Mary Trewby (1995) The Best Years of Your Life. A history of New Zealand childhood. Pp 170 – 171)
Music and dance were viewed as a useful accomplishment for children when Midge was a child, and continues to be a priority for many New Zealanders today. Ballet continues to be a favourite activity for many New Zealand children, particularly young girls.