Cecilia John: an Australian heads the London School of Dalcroze Eurhythmics, 1932-1955

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine

An account of Cecilia John’s leadership at the London School of Dalcroze Eurhythmics (LSDE) and her wider influence across English-speaking and international contexts. The article traces the LSDE’s founding in 1913 and John’s completion of the three-year course (1917–1927), her long tenure as Warden and Principal from 1930 until her death twenty-five years later, and her dynamic yet often overlooked role in the Australian suffrage movement before 1920. It also details early Dalcroze experiences in England and institutional developments around the method.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

First experiences of the work of Jaques-Dalcroze in England

Cecilia John: an Australian heads the London School of Dalcroze Eurhythmics, 1932-1955 Joan Pope Monash University, Australia Abstract The London School of Dalcroze Eurhythmics (LSDE) was established in 1913, and a significant figure in its history was the remarkable Cecilia John, one of seven Australians to complete the three-year course between 1917 and 1927. Apart from two short visits to Australia, John lived and taught in England for the remainder of her life. Following the death of the Founding Honorary Director of the LSDE in 1930, John became the Warden and then Principal of the School. She held this position until her death twenty-five years later. John was a dynamic figure in the Australian suffrage movement prior to 1920 yet few Dalcroze educators are aware ofthis part of her life. Conversely, there is lively evidence of her Eurhythmics studies in London from 1920-1923, and involvement in international Dalcroze Eurhythmics matters, which is unknown to many Australians. Few women could match her record as a mature age student who became Principal of the British school from which she had graduated some seven years earlier. Key words: Dalcroze Eurhythmics, Cecilia John, London School Dalcroze Eurhythmics, suffrage movement, Jaques-Dalcroze Australian Journal of Music Education 2014:2,148-58 Introduction This article acknowledges the Centenary of the establishment of the London School of Dalcroze Eurhythmics (LSDE) in 1913, and the work of the remarkable Cecilia John, one of seven Australians to complete the three-year course between 1917 and 1927.1 Apart from two short visits to Australia, she lived and taught in England for the rest of her life. In 1930, the Founding Honorary Director of the LSDE, Percy Ingham, died and several years later John became the Warden, then Principal of the School, a 1. Joan L. Pope, Dalcroze Eurhythmics in Australasia: The first generation from 1918. Unpublished thesis, Monash University, Australia, 2008) . position she held until her death twenty-five years later. She was a dynamic figure in the Australian suffrage movement prior to 1920 yet few Dalcroze educators are aware ofthis part of her life.2 Conversely, there is lively evidence of her Eurhythmics studies in London from 1920- 1923, and involvement in international Dalcroze Eurhythmics matters, which is unknown to many Australians. Few women could match her record as a mature age student who became Principal of the British school from which she had graduated some seven years earlier. 2. Patricia Gowland, ‘John, Cecilia Annie (1877–1955)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, [http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/john](http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/john)cecilia-annie-6849/text11861, accessed 1 October 2013. First experiences ofthe work of JaquesDalcroze in England Mlle. Roos and Mlle. Simon who had attended his first teaching course in Geneva gave a demonstration of the new music and movement education ideas of Emile Jaques-Dalcroze with students of the St. Paul’s School as early as 1907.3 The work of Kathleen Jessie O’Dowd, the first British teacher from the same course, was later glowingly reported by W. G. McNaught.4 Two music teachers from Moira House School, an educationally progressive school for girls, studied for several terms with Jaques-Dalcroze in Geneva and on their return, the school formulated a curriculum incorporating the spirit of his work in all studies. Girls from this school presented the results at the Royal Academy of Music in 1911.5 Charles Ingham, founding Principal, his wife, their daughter Gertrude, later Principal of the Moira House School, and their son and daughter-in-law, Percy and Ethel, were instrumental in furthering awareness of Jaques-Dalcroze and his method in Great Britain. This was enhanced when JaquesDalcroze visited England in 1912 with students from the Hellerau-Dresden College, to present public displays of hi

FAQs

How was the London School of Dalcroze Eurhythmics (LSDE) established, and who shaped its early history?

The LSDE was established in 1913. A key figure in its history was Cecilia John, who later became Warden and then Principal after the Founding Honorary Director’s death in 1930.

What was Cecilia John’s connection to the LSDE and how long did she lead the school?

She completed the three-year course between 1917 and 1927 and, after 1930, held the Warden and Principal positions until her death twenty-five years later.

What early developments helped introduce Jaques-Dalcroze’s ideas in England?

The article describes demonstrations in England as early as 1907, a curriculum incorporating Dalcroze’s spirit, public displays in 1912, and the creation of a London Centre in 1913 to prepare English students for further training at Hellerau-Dresden.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine