Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-12-06
TEACHING ENGLISH TO DANCE
A Graceful Dstrolter Makes the Argyle
ay Rooms Stare.

Every teacher whom / visited In
London seemed to have his own style
about dancing the Deux Temps (gal-
OPP. Some teach their pupils term
after term what an American would
teach in one evening.
One of the leading teachers of
dancing in London sent for me. He
received me with grand air of conde-
scension. | danced, and he said,
Humph He got up with his
daughter to show me a dance against
time" that is just exactly out of time,
and to Scotch music. | said,
I" HumphI why don't you play re-
dowa, and you can teach that dance in
just three minutes.
| took his daughter, and his wife
played aredowa. 0fcourse we immedi-
ately dancedit. he asked if / ever saw
it before. / said No" He took a
seat, drew a long breath, and told me
to 60 ahead and teach his family. He
was digusted at his own incapacity. |
got six guineas out of him.
went to another leading teacher,
who had several assistants, and at
tempted the three step glide with one
poor girl whom / pitied. She said she
had only been assisting one year, and
could not get it. | asked what Mrs.
~ taught. "0hl nothing but Deux
Temps" | found she had not the least
idea of how it should be danced. |
showed how we would teach it in
America, and the poor girl almost
cried because she had been kept back.
All the assistants to professors Of
dancing are apprenticed for five years
and at the end know nothing about
dancing.
| went to my hotel, where another
order awaited me. Iproceeded to the
school and found teacher who had
taught for yearssin London, but who
really could not waltz. | gave him &
guinea's worth. When | had finished
he was worse than when / started
with him; so he sent for his wife
She came. Heavens well got five
gUlneas out OF hlm,
l complained about the floors, The!
don't use any wax on the floors il
| England. / waxed the foor la De
troit, and thepoor fellow tumbled an,
nearly broke his neck.
| went to another, and he was worse
and on until ] struck a Mr.. Basley
He knew his business He has taugh
, for over fifty years in London. Th
next went to was the worst of all
! but there is no interest in clumsy, in
efficient people. Now, of course, ever
American goes to the Argyle Assem-
bly, Rooms, | went and was disguste
OF all the hopping Why, eyorythin
was three jumps and a slide. | gaze
upon a man dancing the old glide lik
a paralyzed donkey iig
+" Who is that?" ] as1sl.
"0h a dancing master-one Of tn
best in London
"0hI' | muttered, if | only ha
some of Detroit's good dancers here.
, Well--I gazed. Hello, professor,
! greeted my ears, | turned and saw
G lady
Z" Why! don't you know me? Yo
. taught me in Detroit"
S | didn't know her, and was sure
t had never seen her before; but said
S Can you dance my three steps?
: "Of course, was the reply.
About twenty or thirty couples wer
on the floor, and | led her out.
Q circle was formed and away we wen
0 She was an elegant dancer.
(. The musicians gazed-the dancer
stopped and formeda ring. The thre
4 dancing-masters connected with th
s place were grating their teeth. TIL
musicians grew enthusiastic, an
] played tremendously loud but | keI
! on from the three to the four-step, an
j then into the six-step; then into th
= old glide, with a long reverse step, {
i the utter amazement of the spectator
At last | ve.out Lord Rosmor
said Well done What was ths
dance, young man. 1.-The Detro
? glide answered l. Teach it to IN
: and I'll give you $50" Impossibl,
i ! my lord; | leave for America to-mol
! row." | knew the old boy cOuldn
learn it.
In London there are 270 teachers
! dancing, They all have little room
and they crowd in people till no Oh
!, can dance.