Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-09-30
Dancing.

Warm climates seem to be naturally
productive of and the most favorable
to the best singers and dancers. There
alone can be found that glow and vi
yaclty, that impetuOusness and enthu-
siasm, which can hardly ever be equal
led in northern climates. In Russia,
for instance. dancing is as common a
pastime as in Spain or Italy. But how
vast the difference. The Russian peas
ants dance is heavy, listless, and of
tentimes devoid of gracefulness. He
merely swings to and fro to the mOnot-
onOus music of the balateica, a long
guitar, whose notes are frequently
drowned by the shouts and songs of
the bystanders. The dance Of the Cos
sacks is nothing but noisy tramp, or
condensed stamping of the feet, dign.-
fled with the euphOniOus names of
''kOppak," "trapak,n and "kastchok.''
But the Court dance is the polOnaise, of
Polish Organ,as indicated by the name.
1t is merely a measured promenade or
march, affOrding tie very best OppOr-
tunlty for conversation, is at once
graceful and uncOnstrained while the
strictest etiquette may he maintained.
The redOwa, maZurka and varsOvienne
are all Polish dances. Great Britain,
France and Germany have each been
the birthplace of quite a number of
special OF fancy dances, but at the pres
ent day there is really no national
dancing, and the same style prevails in
all countries, at least in good society.
The jig and country dance are purely
English, while the reel is Enthusiastically
of Scotch origin. The minutes-sO
called because of the short step (menus
pas) taken in the different figures
originated in the old French PrOvin ce
of Potion, and was afterwards intro
duced by the Marquis de Flaumarens
into England, where it long remained
in favor, and deservedly, for it was a
gavOtte, which has recently come into
fashion here as a fancy dance, was
tripped centuries ago, by the peasant
girls i'm the gavot's country-a small
mountainous country in the neighbOr-
hood of Gap IN the South of France.
The ever delightful waltz, contrary
to general belief, is not of German
origin. 1t was extremely popular in
France toward the thirteenth and four
teenth centuries, and became known in
Germany only after that period. Its
popularity was soon established i'm all
countries, despite the prejudices and
objections raised against it. The polka
was brought from. the forests of Hun
gary in 1910, and created quite a sensa-
ton. Everything was done in polka
fashion. There were polka hats and
dress goods, and polka jewelry and
polka trimming. Shortly after the
polka became popular here, or about
the same time, Mr.. Polk was elected to
tho Presidency of tba ITpitaI StotaS
and owing to this somewhat singular
coincidence, many persons supposed
that the new dance had been named
after him, or in his honor. The schot-
tische and maZurka next came in
vogue, and from that time fancy dances
multiplied rapidly many of them going
month. Not few of the modern
dances were first brought out on the
stage.
The cotillion introduced here under
the name of the German-is Il very old
dance, which has been but slightly
modified, for most of its figures were
well known more than one hundred
years ago in several of the ancient
Provinces of France. The bouquet,
mirror and butterfly figures, for in
mainly consisted, and does now, of
round dances. Then, as now, it re-
quired some talent to be a good leader
of the cotilliOn. The Orientals are
very fond of witnessing ballets and in-
trieate passuels, but they never dance
themselves. The dances of the baya-
deres and almees are true pantomimes,
though not always very delicate or