Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-11-19
The Latest Racket"

The Louisville, (Ky.0 Courser-JOnndt says
that if there is anybody who does not know
what the "Racquet" is he should at once put
on his swallow tail and renew his acquaint-
ance with ballroom mysteries, He will find
some changes have taken place IN the last
pany plunging like mad through the figures
OF the Racquet" the "Rye," the "Tele-
phone" and the "Wave" These are set
down in the programmes as dances, not as
designations. The four are all allied, and
belong to the same family. An old beau,
who is disabled by rheumatism, told re-
porter a few evenings ago, while discussing
the latest society craze, that the "Racquet"
was cross between the can-can and fight
The same reporter meeting Prof Wastell,
the well known teacher of dancing, few
days later, obtained the collateral evidence
Of an expert on the subject.
as there anything new in the dancing
line, Professor" asked the reporter.
eyes" answered the professor, 81 am sorry
to say there is. have been teaching dane
ing in this city for twenty-seven consecutive
years, and during that period have had oc-
cason to defend the waltz and other round
dances through the press and otherwise
against the preachers and other professional
rcformers But there has come time when
myself must really blush for my profession
because of certain new tangled dances that
have been introduced and become fashiona-
BILE"
"To which of the new dances do you
reter?"
"The most Objectionable are those called
the RYE" and the "Racquet," which are
now being danced at all the fashionable
parties"
"What are your objections to thcse?" pur-
sued the reporter.
"They are both inartistic and vulgar" an
swered Prof Wastel "The person who ar.
ranged them either did not understand his
profession or had no respect for it. There
nre firteen positions in dancing, five of which
are used in the ballroom These are called
ground positions, because the feet never
leave the floor. When this rule is violated
the dance, whatever it may be, is bungled
The "Rye" and "Racquet" require THU
first principle to be ignored Instead of thu
feet never leaving the floor, they are hardly
ever on the floor, They require continue
kicking up and down. do not think any
lady ought to engage in such dances. Tn,
demands Of society are imperative, and, o
course, have to teach whatever is in de
mand or shut up my school. lam sorry
= am forced to do So cannot give you al
accurate description of these dances on pa
per- You would have to see them executed
in order TO fully understand their objection
able features In all graceful dances til,
body should float as it were, through tn
: room, like a swan in the water In TIN
frye" and the 'Racquet" this rule is viola
, ted, and the body, instead of floating is KEEP
in zigzag, heller SHELTER, and other awkwar,
motions. There is a sort Of "cut and com
again" movement, which is not only I'm
, graceful, but latiguing to the dancer am
tiresome to the locker on. think it strang
that such dances should have captured on
society bellies and beaux Yet such is tn
fact There are so many really pretty AM
: harmless dances that one would suppos
;, that such trash as the "Rye" aud the "Rac
qaet" would create only disgust"
care there any others to which you oh
ject"
p, "Yes. The Telephone" and the "Wave
belong to the same class. No respectable
lady ought to dance either Of them"
(which is your fayorite dance"
"The waltz, by all means. 1t is the foun
dation Of all round dances, and the mos
7 captivating by long odds. When you at
tempt to add to it, il is like putting a varia
ton 10 some dear old tune like Home Swee
Home" The original melody is drowned
and the sweetness Of the old song is dilutet
to such an extent that You can hardly tast