Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-29
EASHION,S LATEST FREAK.
The Lum Tum Dance for the Season
0f 1SS0-S1.

Of 1SSO-S1.
IClara Bellies N. Y Letter in Cincin, al Enquirer
az! new style OF round dancing Is introduced
being taught by the masters. am learning 1t
Of an expert, who has what he calls an acad-
envy In Fifth avenue. II is waltz. with the
With certain characteristics that make It re-
markable Last year the Innovation was q
sliding step that was sore trial 10 short legs,
and very difhcult to do gracefully. It was
II odification OF the much-abused Boston
Dip" which in turn was departure from the
SIC ady- circiing waltz previously In vogue. Thus
dancers have been steadily abandoning the
anirt ways OF former years, and now we have
what must La reason be accepted as the culmi-
nati"n. Propriety can no further 60 In the d.
rec;ion OF the ballet l. has no distinctive
priately be called The Philadelphia Fling, be
cause, as am told, II originated In Philadel-
phia, and 1t has the Highland filings space
strength. allied to agility ana grace is sec
ondary consideration. Many do dance 1t grace
FUZZY. but that is owing TO their own natural
ease OF movement l nave broken three cor
set steels In two evenings practice, but am
getting on. In its perfection The Philadelphia
Fling may be described as follows:
The man is tall, muscular and agile The
jective to the movements OF her partner. He
~enctrcles her finally with his right arm, not
around her waist, but just below her shoulders
Win his LEFT band he clasps her right, ana
ceedingly close TO him; and she Is kept snugly
IN that position, not only because he likes t.
but because II he does not have a strong hDtd
OF her he can not take her safely through tn
dance. She literally sticks her nose into his
breast or shoulder, and some day L weak girl Is
going TO be smothered to death In The miiSI o.
common II the dance remains fashionable many
seasons II is not the correct thing to stani
stu In this hugging attitude. The dancing
must begin instantly on the couple coming to-
O fhp or rf &c hniv
terpsichorean offence. The steps are those Of
an ordinary waltz, elongated to a surprising
extent. and accompanied by swaying move
ment from side to side and frequently rever-
sails, 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 cratic, 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 pairs thus engaged are remarkable ex-
h1b1t, and 1t Is no wonder that cautious mamaS
divide their forebodingS between the breakage
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 prevailing style OF dress
prevents more than merely bewitching dis
play OF the wondrously beautiful silk stockings
which are fashionable. The clinging scanti-
ness Of the current skirt. though plainly SHOW
Ing every movement OF the dancers legs, does
Lot reveal great amount OF their immediate
the guidance OF her stalwart partner, she is
flung round and round, her feet barely touch
ing the floor. The violence Of the exercise is
excessive, and for a summer dance this one
VIII prove decidedly unsuitable. Politically,
the woman Will come out Of it In rosy glow,
with her eyes flashing. her bosom rising and
falling TREMENDOUSLY, and her breath making
signs. Practically, her dress waist will be
spoiled by perspiratlOn, the powder On her
face Will be melted, and she will gasp for
breath like horse with the heaves. However
she will enjoy the wild sport, whatever NAV be-
thought by the tired fellow who has practi-
cally carried her through it. II 1.-The undula-
ting girls dance this waltz in Jerseys-thesiimi-
ted, Skin-tight costumes that are coming in
the sight will be rather startlingly like the ia
nous dance OF the naked Nautch- girls
The Philadelphia Fling" is the poetry of mo-
ton In reckless meter, as have described and
experienced 1t: but it must not be supposed
that 1t will be always or even generally danced
In that way. All men are not muscular and
agile. All women are not light of foot and
slight OF figure. Consequently there will be a
great deal OF grOteSqueneSS. Obesity and aWk-
wardness are unfortunately common, and are
rendered comical when their pOSseSSorS try to
skip nimbly. IL either of pair is a bad
dancer. both might as well be. woman who
humps up her back, or tries to keep her part
ner at a distance, or is heavy and slow, or at
temptS to decide for herself when to reverse. is
horror to the man who tries to dance with
Ter. That take on the word of my teacher
1 he man Who steps on his partners corns or
bangs her against other dancers or lets her
tall. deserves burning at the stake. That saw
from personal experience.