Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-07-04
THE CLOG-DANCE.
TALK WITH A PROFESSIONAL 0.scl-
PIE OF TERPslcHoRe.
The Distinguishing Characterize Of the
Clos-Dance-Jinsles and Rattles-
Judges in the Cellar-On the
London Variety Stage
fCincinHafi Enquirer

iCincinHati Enquirer
Roller skatingis merely dancing on wheels
Like waltzIng, Il help, the young lady who
engages in 1t to a graceful carriage BY
teaching her TO insensinly hold herself erect,
90 that the center Of gravity shall be where
nature d sigueL. The first hour on skates
Also shows a y uny woman that, Ike all
thugs else, her feet will only do their per-
feet work after measure of education.
There is NJ doabt,' said professor
that roller skating is attracting general
attention t. the education Of the lower ex-
tremities More ladies, high in social cir
cles, and chiiiren are learning to dance than
ever before. Many Of them learn the fancy
steps, such as jigs, clogs. hornpipes, ETC.
In teaching a lady to do a clog-dance,,
the professor cont ,nuei, the very first tnmy
is to teach Ler TO roll her feet, as it is tech
nically called. This is the key of the whole
business, and when a dancer can do this sue
ressfully the rcmainier OF the lesson is COM
paratively easy. Rolling ons's foot is merely
raising the hip. turning the foot in and
striking the toe on the floor. The whole
motion must lie gone through with grace
fully ami without effort. As the right side
of the boly is generally moro flexible than
the le!t-simply because it has been used
more freely-I generally begin rolling the
left foot first, in order tn counterfeit the
usual tendency in favor Of the right.
The distinguishing characteristic Of the
clog dance is the clear, bell-l like tap Of the
toe or heel on thc floor. The slightest shuf-
fling ruins the effect, while in jig-dancing
shutting is the prime merit In a jig the
sand is reliei on for what may be called
the music, while in the clog the shoes makes
. he, tnI,
many clogs. AMI what do you think they
are made of"
"Give it up
IN many cases of the old-fashionei cop
per cent a hole is dug in the heel Of the
clog, and cent set in so that its broad side
is flush with the surface Of the heel Then
it is fastened through the middle with q
screw, AMI Is left to play loosely
i'll the socket. Other devices are OF
course ued TO reach the same ef-
feet, but jinsles and rattles have seen their
day. There was time when it was neces-
sary to go to England to see the clog dane
ing in its glory. The people over there take
much more interest in such things than We
do, and the Judging between the compare
tive merits OF two dances is considered q
very serious piece of business.
THE judges generally retire into the eel
lar, We may coll if. under the stage, there to
remain until both dancers have separately
gone through a series Of steps. They have
no knowledge, of course, as to which dancer
makes the first exhibition and as the ringing
of the clogs is even more distinct under than
above the floor the merits of the dance can
lie thus readily judged without a possibility
of the judge seeing the dances and allowing
his decision TO he biased by personal preju-
dice"
Here the professor grew emphatic, and
tapped the writer on the chest with his fore
finger
But let the American daucrr go on tine
English stage, among the English people, in
a concert hall, and it is dollars to cents that
he will break down before he has danced ten
minutes"
"Why!'
Because they are much more thorough
over there than We are. The art st who
makes hi appearance on London variety
stage must under tand his bu inc = thor
Oughly. Suppo,iug he is dancing a horn
pipe, the chances are ten to one soma voice
IN the auiielce viii shout: Give US a reeln
or Give us 4 dea march, AMI the orches-
ira VIII Immediately desert tho hornpipe
and drop into a reel 1T a dead march with
out giving the dancer a moments warning.
Few Of our men can stand tLat ordeal They
have a report ire of some half dozsi
dances, and continue grinding out taos,
dance, with variations, to the end Of the
claptarr