The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-06-23
SENSATIONAL Waiting.
The Amazing Abandon of the New Dance


\. Y. Cor. Cincinnati Enquirer
A new style of round dancing is intro
dueed for every summer, and the one foI
1880 is now being taught by the masters. /
am learningiit of an expert, who has what he
calls an academy in Fifth avenue. 1t is a
| waltz, with the familiar waltz-time and step
for basis, but with certain characteristics
that make it remarkable. Last year the in
| nOvation was a sliding step that was a sore
trial to short legs, and very difficult to do
| gracefully. 1t was a modification of the
much-abused Boston Dip, which in turn
was departure from the steadv~circling
waltz previously in vogue. The 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 90 in
| the direction of the ballet. 1t has no dis
| tinctive name that | have heard, but might
| appropriately be called the Philadelphia
fling because, as l am told, it originated in
Philadelphia and has the ighlaGd-hing's
space-covering quality. 1t IS danced by
main strength, allied to agility, and grace
is a secondary consideration. Many do dance
it gracefully, but that is owing to their own
natural ease of movement. | have broken
three corset steels in two evenings practice,
but getting on. In its perfection, the
Philadelphia fling may be described as fol-
lows: The man is tall, muscular and agile.
The woman is slender wilowy, and wholly
subjective to the movements of her partner. |
He encircles her finally with the right arm,
not around the waist, but just below her I
shoulders With his left hand he clasps her I
right, and holds it on his left hip. This |
brings her exceedingly close to him; and |
she is kept snugly in that position, not only /
because he likes it, but because if he does
not have strong hold of her he cannot take
her safely through the dance She literally
sticks her into his breast shoulder,
and some day weak girl is going to be
smothered to death in the midst of her de
light. At the least, pug-noses will be COM
mon if the dance remains fashionable many
seasons. 1t is not the correct thing to stand
still in this bungling attitude The dane |
ing must begin instantly on the couple COM
ing together, and a false step at the start is
a heinous terpsicorean otense. The steps
are those of an ordinary waltz, elongated to
a surprising extent, and accompanied ty
swaying movement from side to side and
frequent reversals, all to rapid music This
carries the couple here and there, now this
way and now that, with surprising swiftness.
Their course about the room is erratic, and
their bodies sway in perfect accord, giving
them, in connection with the long, quick
steps, an appearance of reckless abandon
never before seen in social dancing A dozen
it, and it is no wonder that cautious mammas
divide their forebodings between the break
age and the improper exposure of their
daughters legs. a few years ago when hoops
were worn, such dance would not have
been modestly possible Now the prevail
ing style of dress prevents more than a
merely bewitching display of the wondrous-
ly beautiful silk stockings which are fash !
ionable. The clinging scantiness of the pres
ent skirt, though plainly showing every
movement of the dancers legs, does not re-
veal great amount of their real coverings.
Yielding her person implicitly to the guild
ance of her stalwart partner she is fitting )
round and round, her feet barely touching
the floor. The violence of the exercise is
excessive, and for summer dance this one
proves decidedly unsuitable. Politically
the woman will come out Of it in a rosy t
glow, with her eyes Bashing, her bosom ris- .
ing and falling TREMENDOUSLY and her breath
making signs. Practically her dress waist
will be spoiled by perspiration, the powder =
On her face will Re melted and she will gasp (
for breath like a horse with the heaves. .
However, she will enjoy the wild sport what =
ever may be thought by the tired
elbow who has practically carried her :
through it. If 1.-the undulating girls dance
this waltz in Jerseys limited skin tight
that are coming in-the sight will
be rather startling, like the famous dance of
he naked Nautch girls. The philadelphia 7
ling" is the poetry of motion in reckless
metre, as l have described and experience
ID it but it must not be supposed that it
will be always or even generally danced in q
hat way All men are not muscular and I
agile. All women are not light of foot and I
slight OF figure Consequently there will be !
great deal of grotesqueness. Obesity and /
are unfortunately common, and '
ire rendered comical when their possessors
ry to skip nimbly. If either of pair is .
,ad dancer, both might as well be. wo-
nan who humps up her back, or is heavy !
md slow, or attempts to decide for herself !
when to reverse, is horror to the man who
ries to dance with her. That / take on the .
word of my teacher. The man who steps on
lis partners corn, or bangs her against 9TH
r dancers, or lets her fall, deserves burning :
t the stake. That | say from personal ex- I
,erince.