THE N.C. ESSAY
AUDTTORIUM ACQUIRES Committee Reviews
Page 3
INEWNAME
Robert Ward, Chancellor of the
North Carolina School of the Arts,
announced March 2 that the
school’s Main Auditorium vrill be
named Crawford HaU in honor of
the first president of the School of
the Arts Foundation, Inc. R.B.
Crawford, Jr. The hall will be
dedicated later this year when
the current renovations are
completed.
Ward’s announcement said,
“Of the many generous citizens
of Wnston-S^em who assisted
the School of the Arts during its
first years, no one gave more
fully of himself than Mr. R.B.
Crawford As President of the
North Carolina School of the Arts
Foundation, Icn., he gave us the
benefit of his expertise and
judgement gained through years
of involvement with the Hanes
Corporation and numerous civic
projects. His assistance was
perhaps most important in over
seeing our building programs. It
is, therefore, entirely fitting that
we name our renovated concert
hall for him as some small ex-
ix-ession of our gratitude.”
The renovations designed by
Jennings'Newman VanEtten
\^mfree and Hardy Holtzman and
Pfeiffer Association, will effect a
total transformaion in the
auditorium. They include air
conditioning, forced air heat
which eliminates radiators,
lighting, new sound system,
redecorating, expanded lobby
and an adjoining recital hall.
Crawford Hall will be the
principal place in the coming
years for concerts and opera
performances and will also serve
as the rehearsal hall for the or
chestra. New projection equip
ment is also plann^ so that films
may be shown.
The renovations were ac
complished through State ap
propriations and private con
tributions, which include the
Kresge Foundation, the Hillsdale
Fund, the John Wesley and Anna
Hodgin Janes Foun^tion, the
James G. Hanes Memorial Fund
and the Hanes Corporation.
NCSA SCHEDULES
SUMMER SESSIONS
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. ~
Robert Hyatt, director of sum
mer sessions at the School of the
Arts, has announced that
[x-ograms in dance, design and
production, drama and music are
sdieduled for the Winston-Salem
campus this year. Hie summer
ix'ogram is designed to offer
instruction for students at
varying levels of proficiency,
with particular emphasis on
beginning and intermediate
training for junior and senior
high school students.
In addition a special program
for advanced music students in
high school and college, offers
individual instruction during a
five-week session. Private
lessons and ensemble in brass,
strings, woodwinds, percussion,
piano, guitar and voice will be
tau^t by the NCSA faculty.
^ students live in dormitories
on the campus of the school,
except for those from the \Wn-
ston-Salem area who may wish to
live at home. There is a full
schedule of extra-curricular
activities including arts and
crafts, swimming, sports, dances
and weekend excursions. Ilie
entire program of the North
Carolina Summer Festival,
which will offer productions of
musicals, films, dance and or-
diestra concerts, may be at
tended by the students free of
charge.
The sessions in dance, drama,
visual arts and advanced music
instruction will be held from June
17 - July 20. Two instrumental
workshops for beginning music
students in junior and senior high
sdiool are scheduled for three
weeks each, June 17 - July 6, and
July 8 - July 27. Additionally, an
8-week apprenticeship in design
and iM-oduction for high school
students will be offered for the
REVIEW:
first time this year, from June 6 -
July 29.
The summer session in dance is
open to students fi'om junior high
through college. Students may
select classes in baUet or modem
dance, and all student will
receive instruction in ethnic and
character dance, bi addition,
courses in drama, music and
dance history and criticism are
offered.
The emphasis in the drama
session, which is designed for
junior and senior high school
students is an intensive studio
work in basic acting skills.
Courses include: acting, im
provisation, jazz dance, stag
movement, play production, play
reading and speech.
AjM’ogram in visual arts, under
the auspices of the school of
design and production, is open for
the senior high school and college
level student. Courses in pain
ting, sculpture and art history
will be offered. High school
students in the 8-week ap
prenticeship program will
receive on-th-job training in
technical theatre, working with
the North Carolina Summer
Festival, a professional affiliate
of the school.
The instrumental music
workshops draw their faculty
from public schools in North
Carolina which have outstanding
music programs. Designed for
beginning students, the
workshops include instruction in
all string, woodwind, brass and
percussion instruments. There
will also be master classes
conducted by the NCSA faculty.
Further information and ap
plications are available from INfr.
Robert P. Hyatt, Elector of
Summer Session, NCSA, P.O.
Box 4657, Wmston-Salem, N.C.
27107.
LOCAL ROCK
GROUP PLEASES
STUBBY THE TRACTOR
played here Saturday night
March 31. It is a relief to hear a
band of such superb quality,
considering the void into which
rock music has fallen. And since
the musicians were mostly local
lads, the performance was more
exciting.
Stubby the Tractor combines
the talents of classically trained
musicians with the pulse of.good
ole Chicago Blues. EMxie land and
Delta blues with a touch of Dr.
John, the Nightripper, flowed
from the band.
The band consisted of Steve
Coan (guitar, harmonica,
vocals), Stu Holoman (guitar,
vocals) who also manages the
group, Fred McDonald (drums),
Bob Carter (sax and clarinet),
Rex Cole (Sax), and Richard
Buckley (bass trombone).
There is no point in selecting
one member of the group who
stood out. All eight played well.
The only flaw in the performance
was the place where they played,
but even this did not detract from
the whole evening.
As usual, the majority of the
students seemed to enjoy
themselves. - David Wilson
School's Purpose
NCSA: Statement of Purpose:
One of the tasks related to the Self-Study is
to review the Statement of Purp)ose for the
institution. The Purpose Committee has
been working on this and related tasks.
Below is the revised statement which will be
published in the next issue of the School's
catalog. The Purpose Committee welcomes
your reactions and comments. Please ad
dress any comments you may wish to make
to the Purpose Committee, Dr. Baskin,
Chairman.
The North Carolina School of
the Arts was established by an
act of the 1963 North Carolina
General Assembly. It opened its
doors to the first students in
September 1965 under the
leadership of its first president,
the late Dr. Vittorio Giannini, the
eminent American composer. On
July 1, 1972, as a result of the
restructuring of the University of
North Carolina, the North
Carolina School of the Arts
became one of the sixteen
component institutions of the
University system.
The precedent-breaking
Enabling Act creating the School
states; “It is hereby declared to
be the policy of the State to foster,
encourage and promote, and to
provide assistance for the
culutural development of the
citizens of North Carolina and to
this end the General Assembly
does create and provide for a
training center for instruction in
the performing arts.” The
legislation further stipulates:
“The primary purpose of the
School shall be the professional
training, as distinguished from
talented students in the fields of
music, drama, the dance, and
allied performing arts, at both
the high school and college levels
of instruction, with emphasis
placed upon performance in the
arts, and not upon academic
studies of the arts. The said
school may also offer high school
and college instruction in
academic subjects, and such
other programs as are deemed
necessary to meet the needs of its
students and of the State.”
While established primarily for
talented students from North
Carolina and the Southeastern
region, the School of the Arts
accepts students from all areas.
The School is open, by audition, to
college, high school and younger
students who have exceptional
talent in dance, design and
production, drama and music.
The North Carolina School of the
Arts confers the state of North
Carolina high school diploma and
undergraduate college degrees:
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance,
Design and Production, and
Drama; and Bachelor of Music.
A program leading to a Cer
tificate of Proficiency in each of
the major arts areas is available
to college students who may not
wish to pursue the degree
programs.
Students who are accepted for
admission are given a thorough
professional training in the arts.
This training, designed to
prepare students for a
professional career, is sup
plemented by a strong academic
curriculum. The intent of the
School is to provide each student
with the preparation for a suc
cessful career in one of the
performing arts, and with an
education that will enable him to
take his place in society as both
an artist and as an informed
citizen.
The School of the Arts believes
that in the arts, professional
instruction and professional
standards must apply from the
very beginning of training, and
that this instruction must begin
for the student as soon as talent is
evidenced.
The School of the Arts provides
its students with exposure to the
allied arts and with a challenging
atmosphere created by
association with similarly gifted
persons. A student at the School
will not only concentrate on his
specialty, but he will also
broaden his horizons as he learns
through association with other
students in his own and in other
arts.
Williamson
Dancer, Teacher, Educator and Choreographer ....” Wow, this soul
sister has done it all,” seemed to be the only relevant response I could
articulate. VTith a dazzled mind, sweaty hands, a dripping ink pen, I
ran to my typewriter.... and here it is., the world of Liz Wlliamson.
There is no doubt Mrs. \^Hliamson is themostexciting, inspiring and
encouraging person I have interviewed to date. Mrs. Williamson
taught jazz classes for dance majors the last two weeks before break.
For her it was a return to the city of her childhood, but for the dancers
at N.C.S.A. it was excitement galore on the dance floor. I watched
several of her classes and I became completely exhausted from watc
ing dancers wiggle, shake, stretch, sweat, grunt and dance, dance,
dance!
The dance world of %%Mrs. Williamson includes the publication of
“FUNDAMENTALS OF TEACHING MODERN DANCE AND
MODER JAZZ”, the recording of MODERN DANCE, FREE STYLE
JAZZ, a film strip, MODERN JAZZ FUNDAMENTALS (8MM) and
Mrs. WTilliamson received her A.B. from Radcliff College and her
M. A. from New York University. Her performance credits include the
Donald McKayle Co., Alvin AUey Co., New York City Center:
“Finian’s Rainbow”, Carmen Jones, The Boy Friend, Jones Beach,
Show Boat, Merry Go Rounders, The Follies and etc... and etc...
Screen: Edge of the City, A man Called Adam and an industrial show
entitled Ford.
She did additional studymg with Luigi (whom she replaced while he
was on tour in Europe;, Matt Mattox, Peter Gennaro, Martha
Graham, Hanya Holm, Konstantinov, Don Farnworth, Doris Hum
phrey, Louis Horst, Audrey Hitchins and Richard Thomas, whew) And
the list goes on, my impressions goes on, but let’s let the reviewers
sum up the Artist in their own words...
PRESS NOTICES AND COMMENTS:
“Although Miss Harwood felt that not every teacher was so helpful,
she raved about Liz Williamson, who presented material in jazz and
modem dance. Miss MTilliamson obviously generated excitement by
her ve^ presence. She not only taught two routines but led a
discussion on jazz style. “Every one can do steps - It’s what you
establish above the steps - namely style - that really makes the dif
ference between an adequate dance or dancer and an out-standing
dance or dancer”. THE BOSTON SUNDAY HERALD, SEPTEMBER
4, 1966
“A word of praise for the ’66 Dance Caravan. The crew was
delightful - Particularly enjoyed Liz WUiamson”.
Dance Caravan NewsLetter • 1967
“Liz Williamson is an outstanding creative teacher, performer and
personality who did an extraordinary job for the Workshop program
and the Westchester Dance Council and Teen Day Workshop at Fox
Meadow School, Scarsadale, New York”.
RITA CHAZEN - Director of MODERN DANCE - FOX MEADOW
SCHOOL, SCARSDALE, NEW YORK
“I want to thank you on behalf of the Board of Directors of D.E.A.
for the wonderful job you did for us at both our Teacher and Student
Conventions. Your work was marvelously received. We hope that you
will be with us for many more Conventions to come! Many, many
teachers commented on your work and your manner of presentation in
the mos complimentary fashion”.
DANCE EDUCATOR’S OF AMERICA, INC
(NMEW York Chapter)
“The teachers found you of the most exciting jazz dancers and a
brilliant teacher. Your wonderful presentation and the routines you
gave started the day off on the right foot - pardon the pun!
Dance Masters of America, Inc.
(New York Chapter)
“Liz Williamson a bright new star in the jazz field - wonderful per
sonality, excellent teacher who specializes in completely usable
material with a flair”. N.A.D.A. (Connecticut Chapter)
Such is the world of soul sister Elizabeth Williamson.?!!!??! (Keep
on keeping on!!!!) - H.J. Pankey