New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-28
THE BALLET.
HOW 1T Is TAUGHT IN PARIS,

with artists belonging 70 the italian sehooi nave reV'ou
the otdscusssd question Of the difference bet ween tho
two schools and their respective merits and faults
met tho other day NJ Plugae who for tho last thirty
eight years mas been one OF OF the Grand
Opera On let and put the following questions to lm-
"wnat is the technical difference between inc frehc
and Italian schools OF ballet dancfngF
You know that the ballet had It's Crgin in Italy "
was Mazarn who introduced 1t In France Bnt we "a'o
long since become superior the Italians; they recoa-
nze the fact Themselves for at present their best
fessors are Frenchmen and Erenchwomen The Italian
school Is broader in It's pantomimc gestures; 1t pays
greater attention to the rDythms Of the arms head ana
thigh In the monorOnons one. NO, three movements
the chief aim and attraction OF the italian ballet are
moving tabeaus the school pays strc,er attention
to precision thsn completely Of steps"
al understand that for the corps de ballet But does
the difference the art taught to those who
are called the stsIsf'
Yes. When a ballet OF mine was played ut the
Eden, I found Hrst-cass dancers, no first sub
jects belonging to the traditional classical school,
Tie qualifications Of classical dancerare apombbrosh-
strength In the duration as well as In tue exeeu-
ton OF her poIntswhat wa call the adagio OF dancing
Taglon purely classical and OF the present stars Oh
the OPERA Suhra be called classical In her steps,
saueall who is now married and retired, belonged to
this Grand genre Besides this, there ara two other
schools of dancing, one beng what we call les temps
agility suppleness, and rapidly OF motion. Mauri
who Is the present Of The OTera belongs to tails
school, The raj idty OF changes the vigor displayed ana
the multiplicity OF cembinei step. exctes wonder ana
admiration II Is the most successful OF schools but IL
freely bear classical analysis The third Is
What We call the semi-character' this includes all
national charac erstc dances the Spanish IAN
dangu and o hers. :"
the Grand Opera has regular ballet-schoo OF us
owni"
Yes we train our subjects we accept new re
crults year, they must not be over seven yearS
old When presented they must submit to an eSamina-
ton like soldiers entering the army The doctors SEQ
that their longs sound, that their shoulders ana
knees are straight that their ribs not grown one over
the other; only about four five out OF hteen are
accepted A dancing skIt md dancing shoes are pro-
vded for them and for hour and hair daily ihsy 20
through process OF training For three years no remu
neraton gwen them; but whenever they are needed
during performance to complete the mise en- scene ss
for ms ance, In the Faust march. they are PAID ~
cents an egening You $40 they besin to maze money
much sooner than IL learning a trade, and for this
reason and many others, have many more appica-
tons than vacancies The number averages anont forty
FIVE ana 1t Is divided into three classes AT the age OF
thirteen pupils OF ordinary ability are promoted TO the
second qua ire: .hey then receive salary OF $50
year. It is during the December examinations. which
take place grand stage, In the presence OF the
mltee ana all InO5e III huluOrtJ' buat lIoh"t"h
and advancement take place. Those Of the second
quadrre who have passed the best examinations have
become most proficient pass on to the first quairie
pups OF that class who have stool the test ioin the
coryphees. This HIGHER grade from which we take our
first subjects itself divided into three classes each
containing ak or seven pupils aud they each receive
s,ary of 1920 There five professors; each class
has is special practising room Whom we hnd n pnpi
who shows special talent not compel ner TO lose
hv rngllnr programmes; We
allow her to Jump classes AMI she il given private les
sons. For Instance. Subra iumpei from the nrst
quadre the first ooryphees where she remained out
short time for she promoted TO be first sub
ject' then star"
Is Mauri pupil OF your conservatory
Yes. Before the war. she WAS what we call little
subject one to dancing solos are assigned
During the war she flied engagement In Spain; then
sho was afterward re- engaged the Opeta Her chief
charm lies In her vivacy and in the strength OF her
points. She is a very nice WON an. good natured ana
gentle although OF Spanish blood"
What salaries do artists OF her renown ana talent
receive at the Operaf
"Maurl has a salary of 10000 year. saDgalll
ceved the same The famous Rosatti $4,000;
SuOr, $4,000"
How long does 1t take you to put complicated ballet
OH the s. age, ana what does 1t oostP'
1t takes us from three to five months; allow a
month for each act with daily rehesrsas OF two honrs
prepare ballet four weeks. aud keep their
dancers-who are sta from work OF sustained
else eight hours the with only very
short intervals OF rest II examining OF exercises OF
the limits as it which they let down iln nedatey
after the first performance. This irreZl4rity fprscce
IRE Ia'y in tue steps and sudden WEAKNESS OF
G. limbs, speak Of the patton Of memory
whch the grace and ease that are
more necessary In ballet tnan in other stage per-
Torrance. complicated ballet, like Sylvia for In
stance, costs about $4,000 to 20. up The greatest
OK pendure lies in tue costumes. Nothing In tinse
imitation usei It Is the article. In his
torca bae,s employ artists o, to stu ~
tunes the archives, and then design them; dgursnts
veil first subjects dressed with tile same care
and he same expenditure"
How many have you the stage at one time In
large ballet like SYLVIA tor instanceT
at ia AN easy up; rorty-hve
In the nursery school. forty IN the second quadrle,
twenty in the frat twenty coryphees twenty outside
.eets, oucn dancers and p,ntomimes then
nfty fgurants about 200 In all While the stage,
and behind all that noisy corps under my
surveillance, and You. ut that my place
no At the termination Of the ballet often
have list OF hines amounting to from $50 to S2o.
Besides tue u so OO0 subsidy which the Government
allows the o. defr current expenses 10 not
extra for tue support Of your school OF
ballot"
No. the administration Of the Opera meets tho expens-
es. b sslos the class-s which 1 have mentioned, We
always in running or Ter: pantOmtm1
class reserved for subjects WHO stu ~ parts Ike the
Mueite in Aubers IS .nello : one tor skati ny,
to prepare students for halles like tho one In the
Prophet then u gymnsstio aud fencing school in
which all the classes participate. Many Of our ballet
girls pert feuoers and gracefully weld
lance"
Is 1t true that the standard OF morality is higher
among I.ala ihan FreDch daucersf
10 - not amoUs the Italian dancers whom Wa have In
France lnge the standard to be low every where In
the whole family expects 10 be supported by the
Der who Is fortunate enough TO have position IN
the Opera ballet ami her ,y does not often warrant
MI Nurql an M "a pur
ueIry OF country scat city habtaton aud
eoupage they almost all possess Perhaps the day will
when ballet girls Will follow the example OF u
number of actresses Oi the present day. who
marry early. make faithful wives, devoted mothers AMI
talented artists; nut yet tho day Is not at hand.
However, some retire III young marry and settle
down 10 live All obscure domestic hic. sahgalli who
n,sd sevoral engagements in Amsiiea ana who was
our greatest modern stars OF tue classical styls.
married ron banker, aud sbs retired quietly That
nono OF us knew wba had Of her. She still lives
Paris has severed all connection with tho Opera
and Its people.
NJ Pliynn In his of hOnra siyss dramatic lessOns