The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-13
THE BALLET GIRLS LIFE.
How the Girls Get on the Stage and What
They Are Required To Do.

affairs the other day. Poor girl, she's had a
pretty long out of it. Her lot has been unenvia-
BILE, and she has led a most doleful and precari-
Gus existence for several years past How she
has lived the Lord only knows; 1 don't believe
she does. Her day has come at last, though,
and her stock is now way up"
How do you account for that2s
Easily enough. The rage with the managers
at the present time seems to be burlesque and
the spectacular and for these entertainments
the ballet girl is Indispensable She has ne yer
had such opportunities as are presented for the
coming season"
DO not the light operas call for a great many
extra girlsr
''oh, yes; but you must not confound the
chorus girl with the ballet girl. The chorus girl,
in her own estimation, is much superior being
to the ballet girl If you want to get yourself
thoroughly disliked, just ask one of the chorus
girls how she likes being in the ballet. In
reality. the chorus girl is only ballet girl with
the addition of few more or less musical notes
in her voice, but the fact that she possesses this
advantage is sufficient to elevate her in the
social scale of the theatrical world So that the
chorus girl has had plenty to do since the first
production of Pinafore, while her better looking
and better formed companion, who has the
preference with all that is required in hand
Sohlo dressing OIL Ine Stage, mas, IN the language
OF the street; been badly left In olden times
the ballet girl was really member of the ballet,
ana 1t was necessary that she should know some
thing of dancing in order to hold such position:
but now the minor dancers in a ballet are called
cofypheeS: those who walk on and off and join in
the chorus are denominated ladies of the chorus
while by the term ballet girl is now meant only
those young women who appear as supernumer-
ares, and who neither sing dance, nor speak
They are selected on account of their shapely
Of
numbers upon the stage, and adding to the life,
naturalness, or beauty of the stage pictures. Ev-
cry city has number of these girls, whose
names are on the books of the stage manager
and when a pieceis put upon the stage requiring
their services they are sent for. There has been
but little demand for them of late. 1t is true
that the HEAVIER melodramas have required the
services of those lowly members of the profess
ion, but not often in great numbers"
Then the travelling combinations do not carry
these people with theml"
Certainly not. They carry one or two who
are used to lead the green ones obtained in the
place where the company is playing AS rule
the manager of a combination makes stipula-
ton in his contract that the manager of the the
alter where he is to play shall furnish certain
number of ballet girls. These are called for re-
hearsal on the day the combination reaches the
city where it is to play and then the ballet girl
of the company teaches the new ones what is
required of them Girls are quick to learn any
thing connected with the stage, and you can
march, or even a complicated drill in
very short timea They learn much
quicker than the male supers, who take
the palm for stupidity. Of course, a manager
could not afford to carry large number of girls
who do nothing but walk on and off the stage
as they would not be worth even their railroad
fares to him. The one or two whom he does
carry about make themselves useful in various
ways, generally in assisting in the wardrobe
room and in dressing the new amazons peasants
and fairies, or whatever for the time being they
represent.
"Isn'tit difficult to get these girls when tray
elingw
AS i. general rule, it is not In the large
cities they PLENTIFUL but in tho smaller towns,
where every one knows every one else, the girls
who are willing to go on are not numerous or
desirable, have seen some fearful-looking
goddesses and some very dropsical fairies on the
road, but the poor girls never seemed to be con
scious Of the fact that they positive rights
1t is a rather singular thing that women upon
the stage never know when they possess bad
figures Concerning the beauties or defects of
their faces they are excellent judges, and gener-
ally express at least to themselves, pretty cor
rect Judgment, but when they attempt to judge
the merits of their forms they are honestly IN
capable of arriving at anything like an accurate
Judgment. They will pad only when compelled
to. and, as rule, rebel against such thing as
totally unnecessary. Although the padding of
burlesquers is favorte joke with the newspa
per photographers there is comparatively speak
ing. but little of it done upon the stage
From what class in society do these girls
conner
From the working class They generally
have some friend in the theater, stage-hand,
Tor instance, who secures them chance when
some sudden emergency creates demand for
for them Then when one girl is once on she
generally manages to get her female friend put
on the list ALSO Why any young girl in her
senses should want to be ballet girl passes all
comprehension, but it is certain that when once
they set foot before the foot-lights they are
ruined for any other kind of labor. They be-
come. infatuated with the stage, and if they are
only called upon three or four times year they
will nevertheless hang about the stage door day
after day and either become burden upon
their friends or manage to exist in less respect
able manner There are not a great many of
the latter class, however, and the majority are
simply fascinated with the life and hopeful for
the rewards of the future. Few of these girls,
however, ever rise any higher. It is not from
their ranks that actresses are recruited. They |
live on III the same way year after year. with |
now season Of woful suffering, now few brief
days of moderate prosperity. forgetfnl of the
past, enjoying the present to the fullest measure
Of pleasure. and thinking little, and caring less
of the future. A blonde wig, a pretty dress. a
few admirers and their small salary regularly
paid and they are seemingly content
Isn't the salary paid some compensation for
the life they leadf
How can it. beY. The pay averages from s.
to $40 per week-more frequently the former |
than the latter-and as they are compelled to
attend rehearsals during the day, and go on the |
stage at night it is impossible that they should
have any work outside of the theater Out of
this money they must feed and clothe them
selves. and they often buy little things which |
the theater management will not furnish. Ask |
any Of them about their work. and they will tell |
you it is much better than tending in a store
all day or doing housework, which they despise |
They get good deal of fun out of life as they |
move along. and although they effect to abhor
rehearsals just as do their more distin- /
guished sisters in the profession they neverthe
less have good time in the cherries theater
by daylight They have their petty jealousies
and small triumphs just as do those higher up on
the ladder of histronc fame, and gossip is plenty
with them, which alone is an attraction"
Is there any school for training these girls
for higher grade of workF