PAGE 8, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 1977, WMITBY FREE PRESS From music halls, and army camps evolved Marg Connelly [berne fttlgland dancers are a popuwar part ot many ot on teievision for the rirst urne, in a snow aevoted Marg Comielly's dance recitals and put3lic shows in the Whitby talent. Durham Region. Mrs. Connelly bas been teaching dancing Photo by Stannett i Whitby for 21 years, and last year ber dancers appeýared By BRIAN WINTER Staff Writer Anyone wbo attended Bert Heaver's "Talent Show- case" at the County Town Carnival this year, is not likely to forget the grand finale salute to Canada, when a troupe of dancers came- on stage dressed as Mounties. It was the bigh point of the show. The dancers are students of Marg Connelly, wbo bas been teaching dancing in Whitby for 21 years. Mrs.- Connelly cazop to Whitby in 1954 from rGlas- gow, Scotland, wbere she bad been a professional dancer ini Music Halls. She wanted to continue her dancing career in Canada, but the only open- ings available were in pubs and hotels, and shepreferred the legitimate stage. school in her sister's basemeflt and later moved it to the old Masonic Fiait which used to stand at the four corners of Whitby. For the past 13 years she bas been conducting classes in tap dancing,' ballet, jazz, baton, and Irish and Highland -dancing at the Ail Saints' parish hall. The record of ber pupils bas always been good. In June 1977, six of her students got their BATD diploma, four of them acbieving marks of over 90 per cent. In May, 100 per cent of ber pupils passe d their exams. Every 'year since 1956 Mrs. Connelly bas beld a recital for ber pupils to show off their achieçvements to their parents. Fier first recitals were in the old town hall wbere the fire hall now stands, and wben it was demolisbed in 1960 she moved the recitals to Henry Street Higb School. At one recital, one of the mothers, as a joke, joine d the girls on the stage to do a rendition of the can-can, and the audience broke up in Marg Connelly, who has been teaehing dancing in Whitby for 21 years, holds trophies won by ber majorettes in the County Town Camival parades of 1974 and 1975. Mrs. Connelly's dancers are also ini integral part of the County Town Carnival Variety Show, and she assists Bert Heaver by preparing the choreography for this show. .Free Press Photo