The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-09-19
History of Dancing.

History of Dancing.
During The first lusler Of our century,
| quadrilles disappeared from Partisan ball.
rooms TO make way for the "Ecossaise'
once more. This dance was brought out
in 1860, as we learn from Voltsire's let.
ters, for his niece, Madam Denis, greatly
distinguished herself in il. 1t appears to
have been n species OF "hands across and
down the middle" OF this dance an
anecdotc is current. An Engiisgman en-.
gagged a very tall and stout lady thrice in
succession. Est ce pour espouser, Mon
sicur?" the lady's aunt asked. "Oh, mol"
! the gentleman made answer; &C est pour
transpirer." Ere long, the Galop made
its way from Germany 10 France, and the
poetry of motion was at an end. Still the
empire had given the death.blow to
dancing by the most abomniable "Shawl.
Dances" at which the most notorious
"house breakers" would have blushed.
During the reign Of Charles the Tenth,
the foolish cotillon was rendered fash
ionable, and certainly occasioned consid-
cradle amusement, but it was not dancing.
AT the outset, one OF the most popular per-
iormances was for a lady and gentleman
to hold pocket handkerchief extended,
over which another gentleman leapcd, and
thus obtained right to dance with the
lady. But all these dances were ere long
cast in The shade by the polka. the Origin
OF which is thus described Somewhere
about the year l53i "a young peasant girl,
who was in the service of citizen of E-
berteinitz, in Bohemia, performed dance
Of her own invention one Sunday after
noon for her special delectation, and sung
suitable tune to it. The schoolmasler,
Joseph Neruda, who happened to be pres.
ent, wrote down the melody and the new
dance was soon after publicly performed
for thetirst time in Elberteinilz. About
1885 it made its entrance into Prague, it
then obtained the name Of polka, from the
Bohemian word pulka, or half, from the
half.step prevalent in it. Four years later,
it was carried 10 Vienna by Prague
band. In 1910, dancing master Of
Prague danced the polka with great sue
sess at the Odeon, whence it found is
way with extraordinary rapidily TO every
dancing room. The first polka that ap-
peared in the music trade was composed
by Franz Hilmar, teacher at Kopidlino,
and eventually Labilz1y, Liebmann, Pro.
chaska, Swobods and Tit produced some
first rate polkas. The girl who dscov-
cred this renowned dance, is now mar
ried, but no one knows her name. The |
"poka tremblante" schottisch, is also
Bohemian national dauce, and was
brought out in Paris by CelIarius, in
l844. The "Lancers." now so fashioable,
was introduced by Laborde in 1886, and
is said TO be founded on an old English
war dance. in which the warriors waved
their iarces to the four quarters Of heaven
with strange movements.
Germany is remarkable for various dance 6.
First we have the ST. Vitus dance, next
the "Fackeltanz," the last OF which was
danced at the marriage of our Princess
Royal,to Meyeber's music, and the WALTZ.
Thus We find in Chapman's "Alphonsus
Emperor of Germany. The following lines:
We Germans have no changes in our dances,
An Almain and an Upspring, that is all.
The upsprlng was the origin Of the
modern waltz, which was for a long time
put down by papal power. Although
long danced in Bavaria, under the name
Of Lauder" or "Hosper." it did not be.
come fashionable till 1897, when Vincent
Martins opera, "Tra Cose rara." drove
off the Viennese stage Mozarrs "Flgaro."
-Four characters in this opera, dressed in
black and pink, danced the first waltz or
"Langaus, as it was then called on the
stage. Thence it migrated to the ball
room, and ere long all Germany went
mad about the wal'z. Weber, then in |
his prime, wrote his "Invita:ion to the ,
Dance" and in short time tke whole
fashionable society OF Germany were spin
ming round like teetotums. Presently il
made its way to England. and that pro-
fessor of morality, Byron, deemed it his
duty 10 write it down, in which he did
not succeed. But the German Waltz was
as nothing, until the elder Strauss took it
under his wing and wrote the most dance
able tunes for il. Nowadays ,he deur
temps has driven the old waltz from the
ield-more the pity. Crcmorne sets
the fashion which Belgravia dutifully i'm
itates.