Recently, I was lucky enough to attend the Ruby Ginner Awards 2025, held by the Classical Greek Dance Association.
While I was there, I mentioned that next year, 2026, will be the 110th anniversary of the founding of the Ginner-Mawer School. I was rather deflated when, on being asked what I was doing to mark the occasion, my sad answer was ‘nothing’.
Unfortunately, I just don’t have enough energy. All my concentration is focussed on writing my Irene Mawer books (which is proving much harder than I ever expected). So, in a desperate attempt to find a way to celebrate the anniversary, I asked Ai.
The answer that I received wasn’t too shabby. There is nothing on the list of suggestions that I can undertake, but still, there are some good ideas there. I will include the ideas in the blog post – and if anyone wants to run with one of them (or all of them, lol), then please do so. And, as ever, if you can think of a less energetic, smaller way that I can personally mark the occasion, please do let me know.
And if you are marking the anniversary in some way and would like me to pop a post on here about it, then please let me know.
The info from Ai suggests:
That is a wonderful and specific milestone! The Ginner-Mawer School was founded in 1916, so 2026 will indeed mark the 110th Anniversary of its establishment.
Since the School’s legacy is tied to specific arts institutions, historical archives, and specialized dance forms, the best way to mark the anniversary would be through a collaborative event involving these modern-day connections.
Here are some ideas on how to mark the 110th anniversary, centered around its two core legacies: Classical Greek Dance and Mime/Drama.
🏛️ 110th Anniversary Celebration Ideas
Suggestions number 1. The Collaborative Performance Gala (The Main Event)
This would be the centerpiece, blending the school’s dual focus:
Host Institutions:
The primary partner would be the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) Greek Dance Branch, as they absorbed the Greek Dance Association founded by Ruby Ginner.
Other potential partners include the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama (RCSSD) and the Guildford School of Acting (GSA), which have connections to the founders.
The Programme:
Part i): Classical Revival: A showcase of Classical Greek Dance, featuring works choreographed in the Ginner style, perhaps even recreating some of the original “Grecian Dancers” company pieces.
Part ii): The Art of Mime: A performance piece or a series of short works based on Irene Mawer’s mime techniques, possibly including readings from her book, The Dance of Words.
Location Suggestion:
The Royal Albert Hall in London holds historical significance. This was where the Ginner-Mawer School was founded.
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Suggestions Number 2. The Academic Symposium & Archive Viewing
A great option for historians, former pupils, and current students of related disciplines.
Focus: “The Ginner-Mawer Influence: From Modern Dance Pioneer to Modern Acting Technique.”
Archival Presentation: Collaborate with the National Resource Centre for Dance (NRCD) at the University of Surrey, which holds the Classical Greek Dance Collection, and possibly the Royal Albert Hall Archives.
An archivist could present rarely seen photographs, letters, and performance programmes.
Lectures: Invite scholars and current teachers to present on Ruby Ginner’s anatomical principles, Irene Mawer’s role in modern mime, and the School’s importance in female arts education.
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Suggestions Number 3. Community Re-Enactment & Informal Gathering.
For a more informal and social celebration, appealing to former pupils and their descendants:
The Sherry Party / Afternoon Tea: As an archive-related blog post suggested, a social gathering is a popular idea.
Host a high-quality afternoon tea or a modern sherry party in one of the school’s historical locations, such as Cheltenham (where they were based postwar) or a central London venue near their original studios.
Outdoor Performance Recreation: Recreate one of the Ginner-Mawer dancers’ famous outdoor performances that took place in places like Hyde Park or Regent’s Park in the 1920s and 30s. This brings the art form back to the public domain where it once flourished.
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Suggestions Number 4. A Digital Legacy Project.
Oral History/Video Project: Gather testimonials from surviving pupils or their family members. Record interviews about their memories of Ruby Ginner, Irene Mawer, and the school atmosphere. Archive these videos online for future generations.
Virtual Exhibition: Create a high-quality online gallery of the archival materials (costumes, programs, photos) held by the NRCD and ISTD, making the school’s history globally accessible.
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So there we have it! Some bold plans to grapple with, lol. A gala at the Albert Hall, no less.
As for Ai – it does seem to be learning. The answer it gave was mostly correct and I have made very few changes. Interesting.