A resume` of the training and career of Ronnie Curran, who worked with
The Sylvia Bodmer Dance Group and with Albrecht Knust on Laban Notation.
Born
at Calnoag, Sorbie, Wigtownshire, in Scotland.
Although associated with ballet
and modern dance in Scotland in the early days, he went on to perform hundreds
of dance numbers for television in commercial dance styles. It was in the
satirical revue "For Amusement Only" which played for three years in
London's West End, which established him, as well as occasional choreographer.
It was in this show that he would meet visiting Hollywood stars who would
comment on his work - Larry Parks (star of the film "The Jolson Story"
) remarked, after seeing him in this revue " Had I ever wanted to be
a dancer, I would like to dance like that". He was noted by the main
Theatre, Dance and TV critics of this time.
However, it isn't widely known,
he did a stint on guesting as a teacher in further education directed at young
PE teachers and also at a Vocational College in Bromley for the training of
student TV cameramen, where he devised and staged musical numbers for
"cameras". This was a first, as it used the skills of amateur
artists from various Opera and Musical Societies from the area - on taking it
on, it was on the understanding that the artists would, in return for their
work, have access to good voice coaching and a choir master, both of which he
got from The Royal Academy of Music. Taking the view that most
amateur artists aim to do a good and serious job of work and would want to give
of their best. In return for that enthusiasm they should access skills in
the same way that professional actors, singers and dancers require regular
visits to their teachers - it seems the dividing line between amateurism and
professionalism in this regard is a fine line indeed.
Member of British Actors Equity - 1951.
Dance Training
Began
in Highland Dance.
Trained
under Margaret Morris with Celtic Ballet.
Kurt
Jooss arranged further training with Lisa Ullmann and Sylvia B. Bodmer.
Later
studied with Hans Zullig at the Folkwang School, Essen , Germany.
Sylvia
Bodmer Dance Group, Manchester.
Reflections.
Click on the links below to read some of my personal
reflections on working with
Joined
Ballet Jooss, in Germany in 1952. Took the rolls of "The Old
Soldier" in The Green Table, and "The Artist" in Nachtzug.
Along
with Kurt Jooss and Albrecht Knust using "laban Notation" he
notated several of the highland dances in 1953.
Returning
to London in 1954 to make West End appearances including
·Lead dancer in the musical "A
Girl Called Joe" - Piccadilly Theatre.
·Lead dancer in the satirical revue
"For Amusement Only" - which played for 3 years at the Apollo Theatre.
·Guest dancer with "Dancers
From Vienna" - Festival Hall.
·Arts Council tour of Scotland.
·Founder member and principal dancer
with West Country Ballet at the Edinburgh Festival.
·Appearances in feature films
including "I Gotta Horse", "Masque of the Red Death",
"Shot in the Dark".
Ten
years as a popular television dancer and stylist taking the roll of feature
dancer in a wide variety of television series
·BBC Television - "Max Jaffa
Shows", "The Jazz Session", On the Bright Side" "Ask
Anne Shelton", "Cliff Richard and Millicent Martin Show"
·Associated Redifusion Television -
"Cool For Cats"
·Grenada Television -
"Grenadiers", "The Song Parade", "Chelsea at
Nine", "Swing Along" starring Marian Ryan and Des O'Connor.
·ATV - "Calling Dickie
Valentine"
Published critical reviews
·The Daily Telegraph - "
In Rosen Cavalier his dancing had brilliance"
·The Daily Mail -
"Bouquets to director Joan Kemp Welsh and dance director Ronnie Curran on
last night's production" ( Peter Black on the operette "The Two
Bouquetes".)
·The Times - "Mr. Curran
make the most of what he was given" ("For Amusement only")
·London Evening Standard -
"After three years the dancing remains fresh by two pleasing dancers Ronnie
Curran and Patricia Kirschner" (Milton Schulman).
·Dancing Times - "his
lively dancing made a bonnie Angus" (Cyril Beaumont)
·The Times TV Critic- "A
lithe performance of Moscow Nights"
·The Scotsman - "The
debut of a dancer of caliber to come out of Scotland leads this company at
the Edinburgh Festival " (West Country Ballet)
·" Larry Parks star of the
film "The Jolson Story" commented
after seeing him in the review of Amusement Only, "Had I ever wanted to
dance, I would want to dance like that." The choreographer was Micheal Charnley ex.
Ballets Joos.
Award winning material
·Canne Film Festival - cinema
commercial (appearance)
·Children's TV series for Associated
Redifusion (choreography)
Archive sources
·British Film Institute
·Granada Picture Library
·TV Publications archive
·Albert Knust Archives
Worked for the following
choreographers in Film, Theatre and Television mediums
·Sylvia Bodner, Lisa Ullman, Kurt
Jooss.
·Hans Zullig, Micheal Charnley,
Micheal Holmes.
·Wendy Hilton, Denis Palmer, Dougie
Squires.
·Alfred Rodrigues, Elenor Fazan,
Malcolm Clair.
·Ross Taylor, Lennie Maine, Paddy
Stone.
·George Erskine Jones, Massine, Jack
Carter.
·Elizabeth West, Phil Casson, Dennie
Betis, Ray Lander
E-mail Ronnie Curran at: 