Morning journal and courier., 1883-02-20
The New Dances.

The Racquet, the Society, the Wave, the Knfckerbocker-SewEx and Glides- l9a acfnS- -RrefeSsars an nthesInn9vatd5ns
 From inc New York sun.l
 The round dance which is known as the XRacquet is described in Cartier's Ball Room sGuide as follows:
 Take two long galop slides, with left foot on accent, and, as right foot is brought up Ito left foot for second time, rest, and hold sleft foot in air. Repeat by sliding with right foot, &c.
 Mir. Cartier says that these directions are 4simply intended for teaching and that when the learner has caught the movement the foot is not held in air, but is slid along the floor. However that may be, the modern method of dancing the Racquet Is something 3very different. The slides are made of great Elength, and at the finish there is a vigorous kick with the free foot. This makes the dancing couple rock like a small boat in a lheavy sea, and gives an air of recklessness land abandon to the dance which has brought lit into much disfavor among quiet people, .Some vary the movement by leaping in the lair, instead of sliding As soon as their feet touch the floor they kick, then leap ,again until fatigue compels them to stop. This shakes down back hair and disarranges dress so that the young woman looks as If gshe had come out of a rough and tumble flight. Quiet couples have no chance on the floor when racquetters are around. They 1sweep everything before them like an Ohio Hood, and strew the dancing floor with de sbris of torn lace, torn flowers and broken scombs It leaves the performers flushed and abreathless, but while it lasts there is mad 4dening excitement about it that pleases quick blooded young people. It is still to be seen lin all it's luxurianee at fancy dress balls, and lat sociables where the young folks go in for 2 fun regardless of appearances. It is danced Fin 9-I tiYAn fn0E it's from IT, Sar waltz written by Miss Simmons. The Society and the Wave are similar to s the Racquet, with this exception, that in the Society there is only one glide, and in the Wave, or, as it is sometimes called, the <Knickerbocker, there are three glides. Each ends by the kick in air or the sidewise move ment of the forward foot.
 At the recent annual meeting in this city ; of the American Society of Professors of Dancing, these dances were denounced in un measured terms, and it was decided that they
 should not be taught in any school controlled I by members of the society. This society
 was formed in January, 1879, with the ob- zject of securing uniformity Tn dancing all lover the United States. It's intention was to Adiscourage extravagant dances and to teach Fin their perfection the dances in common use It was found that people had dozen different ways of dancing the quadriile and $Iancers, and that confusion frequently arose. s sAt present there are forty members in the society, of whom nearly all belong out of the Rcity. At their annual meetings in this city } new dances are discussed, figures are settled, and lessons are given by the experienced &teachers to the country dancing masters ' At the last meeting it was decided to teach
 no new dances. The members of the society
 who have schools in this city are L. De G. aBrookes, W. B. De Garmo, R. s. Manuel and aH. F. H. Rivers. W. B. De Garmo is the president, C. H. Rivers of Brooklyn the sec
 retary, and Joseph T. Martin of Brooklyn 7the treasurer Four of the members are women MT. De Garmo said yesterday that sthe Racquet, the Society, the Wave and simi lar dances were 8 burlesque on graceful dance which was introduced by the society iu j1879. This was the redowa glissade, de Rscribed as follows:
 Glide left foot to second position draw night foot to first position raise left foot in ssecond position and leap upon it, bringing 1t up to the right foot and displacing the latter -turning-two glides to left, redowe Gas sfrst) to left, then redowa to right-turnine fglissads to right redowa to right and so on. It is danced to waltz or galop music. This was exaggerated into swaying and kicking, and the result was that the legiti- { mate dance was killed by the burlesque- Nov neither is taught by many dancing mas fters. The society denounced the Racquet land several other dances from the start, but kthe bad dances uVeQ while the gooo one uAeo' Mir. De Garno said that the round dance how most in vogue is the glide waltz, de- sscribed as follows:
 Glide backward with left foot, at the same time bend both knees CD; draw right foot nearly to third position in front, the weight lstill on left foot CD; rise and pivot upon the fheel of the backward foot, the toe Of the Fother foot skimming the floor (3); glide for 2Ward with right foot, bending left knee (D; }glide left foot (the heel raised) to second DO; :sition (5); pivot upon the balls of both feet land draw right foot to first position (6). Re. scommence by gliding backward with left foot, and continue with the movement as de sscribed until the movement becomes steady land unbroken.
 To reverse: The gentleman will glide left foot forward to fourth position (bending fright knee), CD; glide right foot lthe heel fraised) to second position CD; pivot upon Fthe balls of both feet and draw left foot to '