Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-10-02
Dancing.

Warm climates seems to be naturally pro-
ductive of ard the most favorable 20 the best
singers and dancers. There alone can be
found that glow and vivaCity, that iTnpetu-
business and enthusiasm, which can hardly
ever be eQualled IN northern eli mates. IN
Russia, for instance, dancing IS quite as COM
mon pastime as IN Spain or Italy. But how
vast the difference! The Russian peasants
dance IL heavy, Hstless, and oltentimes devoid
of gTacefuness. He merely sways TO and fro TO
the monOtoBOus music of the ''balateica"-a
long guitar, whose notes are frequently drowned
by shouts and songs of the bystanders. The
dance Of the Corssck is nothing but noisy
tramp, or condensed stamping of the feet, dig
nitied with the euphoniOus names of "kOppak -
"tropsk' and "kastChOk," But the court danes
IS the Ioonaise, OF Polish origin, as ind Gated
by the name. II is merely a measured prom -
made or march, aiiCTding the very best oppoT-
tuuIty for conversation, is at once graceful = d
uDcOnstTaiued, while the strictest etiquette
msy be maintained. The redowa, mszuTka AID
varsOyienne are al Polish dances Great Br.-
tain, France and Germany have each been the
birth place Of quite q number Of special or
fancy DANCES, but at the present day there is
really no national dancing, and the same style
prevails in all countries, at least in gOod socsty
The jig and country dance are purely English
while the reelis uDmistaka0iy OF Scotch orr gin.
The miuute-so called because of the short step
menus pas) taken in the different fgures-ori-
ginated in the old French province of Poitou
and was after ard introduced by the MARQUIS
de Flsumarens into England, where it long re-
manned in great favor, and deserTedly, for il
was dignifed and graceful dance. The CAV
Otte, which has recently come into fashion here
as fancy dance, was triPpc1 centuries ago by
the peasant girls in the gayOt's cOntry-a sma l
mountainous country in the neig hbOrhOOd OF
Gar, in the south of France.
The eEer-delishtful waltz, contrary to gem
orally belief, is not OF German origin. It was
extre mely popular ia France toward the thir-
teenth aid fourteenth centuries, and became
known in Germany only after that period. Its
popularity was soon established in all countries,
despite the prejudices and objections raised
against II. The polka was brought from the
forests OF Hungary in 1890, and created quite
sensation. Everything WAS done in polka
fashion. There were polka hats aud dress goods
polka jewelry and polka trimmings. Shortly
after the polka became popular here, or about
the fame time time Mr.. Polk was elected for
the presidency of the United States, 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
end of month. Not few of the modern
dances were first brought ont on the stage,
The cotlliOn introduced here under the name
OF the German-is a very old dance, which has
been but slightly modified, for most of its figures
were well known more than one hundred wears
ago in several OF the ancient PROVINCES of
France. The bouquet, mirror and butterfly fig
nres, for Instance, were quite popular, and fC
mainly consisted, and does now, of round
dances. Then, as now, ii required some talent
tobe good leader of the cOtllion, The Orien
tails are very fond of witnessing balets and intri-
cate psssuels, but they never dance themselves
The dances of the bsyaderes and almees and
true pantomimes, though not always very deli
q ate graceful