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FORMER NONSUCH DANCER:
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A very good friend and supporter of NONSUCH, Jim died
just three months after Peggy Dixon. He was a regular participator in all
the UK dance summer schools, and attended NONSUCH Annual Summer School each
year from the 1980's.
In 2005, he gave his support to the first Summer School led by the new Artistic Director, Darren Royston, leaving a legacy to NONSUCH to continue its work as an educational charity promoting the realisation and performance of historical dances. Jim also gave NONSUCH a copy of his own research and realisation of 15th Century Italian dance technique from the writings of the Italian Dance Master, Antonio Cornazano.
His work outside of NONSUCH included the Capriol Historical Dance and Music Group in Oldham, which Jim and Majorie Riley founded in 1981, and many of its members received training at the NONSUCH Annual Summer Schools. Jim had a great reputation for cameos, which would show choreographic presentations in a dramatic setting.
"a leading researcher and participant
in the fields of both choreographic and musical realisation, a consummate
showman, a lively and entertaining performer and an open-hearted friend to
all"
Alan Hartley Smith (Capriol), Obituary in the Early Dance Circular.
