JERUSALEM POST
April 27th 1979

DANCE / Dora Sowden

An Association for the Advancement and Development of Spanish Dance
is to be formed in Israel - and the famous dancer Antonio is to be its
honorary president.

This coup has been brought off through the efforts of Silvia Duran, a
personal friend of Antonio.  While fulfilling engagements in Spain last
August, she went specially to Malaga to see Antonio, now 58, but still
dancing and directing a company.  She was able to persuade him not
only to accept the presidency of the association but also to give his
support for a "pedagogical commission" and sign diplomas in due course
when issued by the commission.

"I believe that any association or other organization relating to Spanish
dance should be directly linked with Spain," said Duran.  "I don't think
we should have a set syllabus , for there are many styles in Spanish dance,
but if we do have examinations, the examiner should come from Spain.
I have invited Antonio hinself to come and see the conditions."

Antonio recently celebrated his jubilee as dancer and toured the whole
of Spain.  "The reception was unbelievable." said Duran.  When he
comes here, she explained, he will decide how the pedagogical commission
will function.  Whatever is agreed the stress will be on authenticity.

The chairman of the association is Baruch Gillon, and several prominent
dance personalities have already agreed to serve on the committee.  Deputy
Mayor Yitzhak Artzi of Tel Aviv is an honorary member.