Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1886-11-25
The Now Dance.
Baltimore Sun.


As for dances that are TO be taught,
the waltz will continue to be the most
important. There is fascination
about the waltz, whether in modification
or dreamy swelling dip, the nervous hop.
the facile glide, or the mechanical walk
around OF the Germans continuously in
one direction, that never loses its hold
upon one who dances it readily. Efforts
will be made the coming winter in all
academies presided over by members of
the society of professors recently in ses-
sion to bring about uniformity in the
mode of dancing the waltz. With this
end i'll view the extreme hop variety at
present in view in Brooklyn and New
York will be modified so as to reduce Che
ungraceful hop, which Is also very fatigu-
ing, more to the glide, retaining enough
of the rise to Justify the characterize
ton of the new style as the spring
waltz" The spring will come from a
slight elevation of the body on the toes,
and Strengthening of the bent knee, in
the mid swing of the movement of the
step. -----
In the quadrille no decided change has
been introduced, though Judging from the
progress made in the past few years an
innovation may be introduced very east
iy. The tendency lately has been to
make the whole set participate during
the quadrille. Only three years ago but
one lady danced in the characteristic
part of figure at time. Then the
tendency brought couples to the fore in
stead of single partners. Now the set dance
throughout the figures. An additional
change in the old qua1rille is the dancing
on diagonal lines instead Of square ones.
These two dances, the waltz and qua
drille, together with the polka, will, of
course, continue TO be the standard dan
ces.
OF the new dances to be taught, as
adopted by the society of professors, the
octagon is an entirely original concep-
ton. Nothing beyond a garbled refer
ence, or approaching a description of this
unique feature has yet been published.
1t is not az has been stated, a moditiea-
tion of the quadrille nor has it the essen
tial features of the quadrille. The re-
porter called upon Mr.. G. II. Rivers, of
Court street. for an accurate description
of the octagOn, which is detailed as fol
lows The octagon derives It's name
from the fact that the eight couples re-
quired to dance it face so as to form ar
octagonal figure. 1t is made up of five
numbers, each consisting of various fgur-
es. The first number is thus described.
After the formation Of the set, consisting
of eight couples, salutes TO partners, then
to the center with Joined hands all around
follow. The sides.now move to the right
and corners to the left. In this
movement very attractive step
similar to the Minute step, Is
used, as the couples advance and re-
tire. Then each two couples form cir
Gle and glide round to the left. The
corners join hands and allow them to
pass under. Returning 30 places, sides
Join hands and corners pass under. All
now separate from partners, and, each
lady giving her right hand to the gentle
man nearest on her right, they march
round each other till they meet their re-
spective partners, when they disengage
themselves and march TO their places.
These figures are repeated in alienation
four times.
In the second number Of the dance the
sides and corner advance and retire; gen
tlemen remain in places, while ladies, ex-
tending the right hand to Wis Wis, march
to the opposite couples and salute. They
then balance to their new partners, using
a courtly- graceful balance step; ladies
extend right hand to each other end re-
turn to their own partners; four side
gentlemen without moving, form cross,
giving left hand, they raise arms high
enough to allow corner couples to pass
under. These figures are reversed and
danced four times alternately.
In the third number, the initial saluta-
tions are followed by movement of the
sides to the right and corners TO the
left; then all advance and retire, then
salute. The ladies perform half chain
by giving right hands to partners, then
marching, present left hands to opposite
gentlemen and pass around, making a
half turn, and remain. The gentleman,
having turned lady half round with left
hand, extends his right hand to the oppo-
site gentleman and, marching to the op-