The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-06-25
wild WALKING.


A New York correspondent writes as
follows to the Cincinnati Enquirer:
A new style of round dancing is INTRO
duced for every summer, and the one for
1880 is now being taught by the masters.
j am learning it of an expert. 1t is n
waltz with the familiar waltz time and
step for basis, but with certain char
acteristics that make it remarkable
Last year the innovation was a sliding
step that was sore trial to short legs,
and very difficult to do gracefully. 1t
"Boston Dip" which in turn was a de-
parture from the steady-circling waltz
previously in vogue. Thus dancers have
been steadily abandoning the quiet ways
of former years, and now We have what
must in reason be accepted as the cul-
mination. Propriety can no further go
in the direction of the ballet. 1t has
no distinctive name that / have heard
1t if danced by main strength, allied to
agility, and grace Is a secondary consid-
alton. Many do dance it gracefully, but
that is owing to their own natural ease
of movement. l have broken three cor
set steels in two evenings practice, but
nm getting on.
In its perfection this dance may be
described rs follows: The man is tall,
muscular, and agile; the woman is slen-
der, willowy, and wholly subjective to
the movements of her partner. He en-
circles her with his right arm, not
around her waist. but just below her
shoulders. With his left hand he clasps
her right, and holds it on his left hip.
This brings her exceeding close to him;
and she is kept snugly in that position,
not only because he likes it, but because
if he does not have n strong hold Of her
he cannot take her safely through the
dance. The dancing must begin instant
ly on the couple coming together, and
false step mt the start is II heinous terp-
sichorean offence. The steps are those
of an ordinary waltz, elongated to sur
prising extent, and accompanied by
swaying movement from side to side,
and frequent reyersals, all to rapid
music. This carries the couple here and
there, now this way aud now that, with
swiftness. Their course about the room
is erratic, and their bodies sway in per-
feet accord, giving them, in connection
with the long, quick steps, an appear
ance of reckless abandon never before
seen in social dancing. A dozen pairs
thus engaged are a remarkable exhibit.
A few years ago, when hoops were worn,
such dance would not have been mod
estly possible. Yielding her person i'm
plicitly to the guidance of her stalwart
partner, the wopan is flung round and
round, her feet barely touching the floor.
The violence of the exercise is excessive,
and for summer dance this one will
prove decidedly unsuitable. POLITICALLY,
the woman will come out of it in rosy
glow, with her eyes flashing, and her
breath making signs. Practically, her
dress waist will be spoiled, the powder
on her face will be melted, and she will
gasp for breath. If little, undulating
girls dance this waltz in Jerseys-the
skin-tight costumes that are coming in
the sight will be rather startlingly like
the famous dance of the Nautch girls.
This dance is the poetry of motion in
reckless meter, as have described and
experienced it; but it must not be sup
posed that it will be always or even gen
orally danced in that way.