initiative!
Eurythmy Spring Valley Celebrates Forty Years! by Maria Ver Eecke As Threefold marked its 90th, the School of Eurythmy Spring Valley celebrated its 40th anniversary. Graduations at ESV are always grand events and friends come from afar, creating a mood of homecoming. After a two-hour performance in the Threefold Auditorium and a reception in the Threefold Café, at back row: Kari van Oordt, Lucille Clem, Virginia Brett, Lisa Monges, Marianne Schneider, Norman Vogel, the stroke of midnight comes a skit where the teachers L-R, Maidlin Vogel, Margarete Proskauer-Unger (teachers); front row: Carol Ann Williamson, Grace Ann Peysson, are roasted in good natured humor and the audience Alys Morgan, Nancy McMahon, Francesca Margulies, Kristin Hawkins, Ruth Finser (Class “A”) realizes just how well these students know each other, as Now, with a family of five, the graduates are portrayed by their classmates. she was unable to attend This special year honored the original alumni, the the eurythmy trainings in “A” Class of 1976 (pictured above, right). We gathered Europe. For many years, for tea in their first classroom, the home of Lisa MonKristin taught, performed ges. Faculty and staff of Eurythmy Spring Valley and with stage groups, and Threefold were the hosts. The alumni who attended were gave therapeutic eurythmy Kristin Hawkins, Alys Morgan, Grace Ann Peysson, and lessons at the Fellowship Community, Green Meadow Carol Ann Williamson. Nancy McMahon and Francesca Waldorf School, and the Rudolf Steiner School in NYC. Margulies were unable to attend. Siegfried Finser stood in Grace Ann Peysson remembered coming from Emerfor his late wife Ruth. We were served scones with clotted son College in 1965 to be the cook at the Threefold Farm. cream, strawberries, and herb tea fresh from the garden. Many anthroposophical conferences took place during After introductions, personal stories were told, giving the summers. She spoke of the youth movement that met space to our elders, who paved the way for all of us. I was here in 1970. Grace Ann is presently living and working moved by the way the younger eurythmists listened. at Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, Pennsylvania. The School was the initiative of Kristin Hawkins, Ruth Finser gave therapy sessions to children from who asked Lisa Monges if she would begin a eurythmy the Hawthorne Valley and Great Barrington Rudolf training, as Lisa had the recognition from the GoetheaSteiner schools, as well as having a private practice within num Council to grant eurythmy diplomas. Lisa respondher home. Nancy McMahon gave therapeutic eurythmy ed that such a training was best as a group process, and sessions at Raphael House and the Sacramento Waldorf soon others joined the class. Kristin, a Waldorf alumna, School, as well as teaching a few groups of hygienic euhad been doing eurythmy since she was ten years old. rythmy at the Rudolf Steiner College. Francesca MarDorothea Mier, Annelies Davidson, Elsa Macauley.
18 •
being human
Grace Ann Peysson, Siegfried Finser, Carol Ann Williamson, Kristin Hawkins, Alys Morgan.