Цитата: UP-TO-DATE DANCING
UP-TO-DATE” DANCING. was during rest 3 of a lesson in fencing, given to one of his pupils, that leading Professor in the terpsichorean art found time to answer the questions of a visitor who was anxious to learn latest wrinkles concerning “up-to-date dancing”.
“The prevailing tendency,” said the professor, ” is waitz, everything, more or less. People will waltz, even to polka. are-becoming a nation of waltzers, not of dancers. Programme of 18 or 24 dances three-fourths of them are waltzes, and quadrilles and the lancers are apparently only retained to enable couples to take a rest by “sitting them out,” or give man the chance of dancing with tho daughter by flattering the mamma. When he has walked the duenna through quadrille, yon understand, he can easily secure her charge for the next waltz.”
” Why, do you think, is the waltz popular? ”
“Because, rule, the extremely pretty; the time is easy to acquire. Have you not noticed that the most popular airs of to-day, the comic or ballad songs, are in waltz time”
“Are not some persons natural waltzers ?”
“That is mistake. A good dancer will accommodate himself to a bad one. People imagine they can waltz when they can’t. They say they have “picked it up” The majority of dancers have not been properly taught. There is an immense amount of vulgarity in ballrooms; for example, the manner of holding partner. Each class has its own way of doing it. A low-bred young man will put one hand spread out between the shoulders of bis girl, and she will clutch him round the neck. List year one style was much in vogue—the man would work his arm round his partner so that one hand would be between her shoulders, whilst the lady’s left hand rested upon his bent arm. The couple, almost facing each other, heid their other hands together to the height of the man’s shoulder, and the man stalked about tho room, pushing the young lady backward as he went. Another ridiculous fashion, has not died out, for the pair to extend their arms fully, aud with great rigidity, so that one who comes into with this pump handle arrangement gets”
“Well, then, what correct, way to hold partner ?”
“The lady should be at a fair distance from gentleman. In the best form there is no embracing. You lightly place one hand upon the lady’s waist, and her left hand rests upon your shoulder, whilst you support her with your rierlit hand. The lady places her right hand upon your left, but you must not hold it.”
“Is not there great deal of affectation in dancing ?”
“It is our work to sec where grace begins and affectation cuds. Every movement should be natural. An Englishman not possessed of natural movement, such you will find in the Frenchman. Ladies dance much easier, and they learn quicker than the average man. Perhaps it is because their greater knowledge of music, and better ear for time. Besides dancing is almost the only athletic exercise permitted to them.”
“Is not it said that five hours constant turning is calculated to make anyone bilious?”
“I think it is the lobster mayonnaise which more responsible for that. I have never been able to see whore the enjoyment can be in a quick waltz after a rich supper,” laughed the professor. “But,”‘he added, the reverse was introduced obviate giddiness and to overcome tendency to one-side ducss. In very crowded room tbe reversing operation tends to obstruct. Perhaps for that reason, and perhaps partly because the middle classes have taken to it so kindly, the upper ten “are discontinuing it”.
” What is the new waltz we are so constantly bearing about, professor?”
“The old waltz was very quick waltz. The modern one has more of a gliding movement it is more dignified; it is not that youthful rush which it used be. It can be danced by more elderly people. The waltz this year is in the same time last.”
” What Is there waltz every year?”
The professor smiled mysteriously and murmured something about a trick of the trade, but explained that when he said the modern waltz was slower he was comparing it with the quick waltz of 10 years ago. Nowadays six steps are made instead of three. []
“Ought “extra” dances to allowed?”
“They tend enormously confuse matters. In properly regulated ballroom “extras” would not permitted.”
Then the professor fall to chatting about the way in which “square” dances had fallen into decadence, and how, too, the schottische had lost its popularity. The Minuet de la Cour was not much danced, he said, except on special occasions; but the gavotte, which is similar but livelior, had sometimes to be arranged.
“The demand for the pas de quatre, or barn dance, is greatly on the increase,” added the professor; ”but the pas de quatre of ballroom not to be confounded with tho dance associated with the Gaiety Theatre. The ballroom pas quatre has reference to the number of steps; tie stage dance of the name to the number of dancers.”
A young lady, proficient both dances, obligingly tripped them to demonstrate the difference. Both were charming. The ballroom pas de quatre, which is for two persons, and not for soloist, reminded one somewhat of the schottische step with waltz movement introduced somewhere, and the stage pas de quatre had that peculiar kick which every Londoner now sees the street children illustrating at corners where organ men set them dancing.
“The craze for fancy dancing.” observes the professor, “is growing very marked. The introduction of accordion pleats and the example of Miss Letty Lind set ladies skirt dancing for entertainment of their friends. They aro now taking to tbo serpentine skirt dancing.”
[…]
The common experience of the novice who decides to take dancing lessons is a feeling of shame that his or her education has been neglected, which shown in profuse excuses which, rule, take this form : “A man will say, have been away in foreign parts ;” or,” was laid in my youth,” and the young lady will giggle out. I was not allowed to learn at school, mother did not approve of it.” In these times, however, parents are much more favourable to dancing as a physical recreation, and dancing, it is said, is oven be beard of convents.
“Dancing,” says the professor, “becoming much more general all classes. The gentlemen are showing keener desire to learn. Two years ago there was groat difficulty to getting men to dance. We have often had to supply dancing men to giving balls—perhaps a couple, sometimes eight or 10.”
“And are there, then, dancing men to be hired out for the evening?”
“Not exactly hired cut. They may be our pupils— gentlemanly fellows, who accept the invitations. People are so lazy now that they entrust everything to us. They send us their address book, tell us they want have 100 guest, ask for a menu, and we estimate the cost. Then we address the invitations, send them ont, and relieve the people of all trouble, even, as I have said, finding men to dance, which is not pleasant.” […] “Daily Telegraph.”
Источник: Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser - 14 Jan. 1893
Цитата относится к: 1893 г.
Дата первой найденной публикации: 1893 г.
Подобрал цитату: Алина Логвиненко (Файзганова)