Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-09-14
THREE NEW DANCES.
The Outcome ofthe Annual Conven-
ton in New York City.


ton in New York City.
From the Neto York Times.
Thirteen professors of poetical motion,
whose light. fantastic toes were neatly
shod in patent feathers, innocent OF the
mud ana slush of city walks, met yes
terday at the Grand Union Hotel and
ended their ninth annual convention.
Since Monday they have been in cOnclave
anXiOusly designing and practicing
dances likely to lind favor in the modern
ballroom. The convention began with
thirty professors in attendance, but the
weightY nature of the business fatigued
seventeen gentlemen. who failed TO ap-
pear yesterday. Among those present /
the convention were Thomas c. Tanning
of POughkeepsie, Samuel ID. Sphinx OF
Providence, Edwin }. MARITIME of Chica-
go, ;. &. II. Vance of Cleveland, Mrs.
Sarah j. Severance Of Milwaukee, Chas.
II. Rivers Of Brooklyn. James p. Brooks
OF Pittshurg, Edwin G. Sphinx Of Proyi-
deDce, Israel Smith of New Bedford, Mass,
). a. Holland of Springfield, Mass, Fred
erick LAmoreux Of Binghamton,
William Pitt II. Rivers Of Brooklyn,
William f. Greene OF Providence, and
George Putting, Jr., of Hartford. Mrs.
Severance was the only lady present, and
1 y,
she disported herself alone, whether to
avoid giving thirty masculine hearts any
reason for jealousy, or because none of
the eeDtlepen suited her step. is not
known. Mr.. LAmOreuX, of Bingham
ton, mas given instruction in the terps-
chorean art for forty years, and at the
convention no one was more active than
he, no one made more sensible sugg estions
or was SO ready TO veto an homogeneous
step.
By the convention which ended yester-
day society has been enriched by three
new dances, discussed on Monday, prac-
ticed on Tuesday, and adopted by the
professors on Wednesday. These dances
Will be taught by every professor in the
convention. James T. Brooks, of Pitts
burg, presented the American gavotte,
which was unanimously adopted by the
professors as worthy TO he danced in
ball room. Unlike the French gavottes
which were patrOnized by Louis XIV.
and La Marquise de Pompadour, Mr..
Brooks measure is included in the cat
egory Of round dances. Its
principal characteristic is smooth
and refined movement. 1t is danced to
iour-t0ur time. One OF Edwin G. SpInk's
inventions was the next to meet the fas-
tidious approval of the professors. Mr..
Sphinx presented the Columbia" another
round dance of an extremely sprightly
and 'hoppy" nature. The professors
were delighted with this measure. Chas.
II. Rivers gave to the world the octagon,
a square dance, which can be INDUCED In
To the strains of any ordinary lancers
The octagOn, as its name indicates, is
formed by eight people. A feature
of the dance is that all
the couples move at the same time and
diagonally. At one stage OF the dance
the couples pass under each others
arms in diagonal and parallel lines. The
Octagon is an innovation. In the Ian
guage of Mr.. Rivers: at is very beauti-
tul, but it must be seen to be Appreciated
Many measures were declined without
thanks. Among the dances practised
we're the Saratoga lancers, the diagonal,
the mistletoe minuet, the redowa, the ple-
belan and general polka, and various
forms OF the waltz.