New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-02
THE ART OF DANCING WE'LL
STEPS THAT ARE POPULAR THIS fEAh
soML OF THE DIFFICULTIES A TEACHER HAS TO
CONTEND WITH IN AWKWARD Pupils.

he Is constantly placed at a disadvantage when III
company II no does not possess educated ieot Inc
style Of dancing to-day Is entirely different rom inc
movements Of a few years ago Then dancing was
done on tho toes; the heel is scarcely rasco
from the ground Then there used TO be great
deal Of hopping; now thoro Is none. Dancing IS no"
moro refined and elegant. and by no means so atguhs
as formerly The consequence Is that these improve
ments have brought dancing into favor 10 desroo
perhaps never before attained
"Wbat will be tho leading dances this winter"
said Tribune reporter tho other day 10 froicssor
p V. Cartier, at his pleasant dancing hai !" run
ave- The professor looked up from the table "hero
he was bnsily writing and laying aside his pen, SAID
pleasantly There are several new dances whicn arc
becoming popular this season. The ones mat WIN
be most popular are the Kentucky Juoliec' "onn"
Duchess Glide, MazOurka and Military foiA~ i"o
Kentucky Jubilee Is similar to the Military ocho'o"o
The lady and gentleman take the same position d
in that dance when starting. They theh 'ano 'hIoo
running steps and a hop, and then repeat the sano
step only starting the second time with the other
foot -Four waltz steps are then taken, which com
pletes the dance formula The time as you VIII hoce'
IS twofour four.thrcc. Any one familiar with dancing
can learn it with little difficulty, and this is one OF the
reasons for its great popularity.
ANOTHER POPULAR STEP.
"The Berlin Is another popular dance this season.
1t Is entirely different from any OF the round dances
to give you an idea OF it' With this remark the pro-
lessor took his position the waxed floor Of the dane
Ing hall and continued: You | take the lady's
left hand in my right hand and we both face In tho
direction simple polka step Is the first taken
forward, counting three Then hop on my left foot
bringing forward my right foot, counting four hop
again. bringing my right foot back, counting Owe; and
hop a third time bringing my right foot forward
again, counting SIX While taking this step release
my partners hand and turn half around. This step
Is repeated, beginning with the right foot two meas
ures) and then the regulation polka step Is danced
-four mcasurcs).
1.-THE Military Polka, or Polka Mllltairc,' has be-
como decidedly popular this season. In this dance
the partners place themselves sldc by side The gen
tlenan's right hand is round the ladys waist and
tho lady's left hand is placed on tho gentleman's
right shoulder The gentleman starts by sliding
back his foot, looking toward his partner at mo same
time. In France this dance IS called Coquette rom
dancers gives q pleasing and coquettsh effect. Tho
regulation polka step IS then taken This step is
then two full movements OF the POLKA Esmeralda
-four measures) are taken, In taking the Esmerada
steps the regulation position Is assumed
HOW THE DUCHESS is DANCED.
ain The Duchess the dancers stand side By side
Tho gentleman begins with his left foot, taking four
walking steps forward and points his right foot well
forwar for the fourth count He then releases bis
partner and turns half round, takes the ladys nght
hand and repeats the walking movement in the OPP
posite drec ton and points his left foot for the fourth
count -four measures,. Tho second step OF this
dance IS a glide polka -four measures).
Now here IS the Glide MaZourka you see, the
gentleman begins by bending his right bncc and Gid
ing bis left foot to the left, counting one. Then
the right foot is drawn back ard beyond tho left
foot, counting two. The left foot Is glided 10 Inc
left again. counting three and the right foot Is brought
In front and beyond the left foot, counting four
The left foot IS again glided to the left. counting
five and six The slle steps repeated, making
four measures and at the end of the side steps tho
four measures of the Round Polka MaLourHa are
danced .,...,..,.
York Esmeralda and waltz will hold their own. VI
course, the German will be danced as usual In square
toga Lancers, although quadre IS occasionally USED
for opening ball. The main trouble with me IAN n,
dancing them and nearly every instructor teaches
different style. All of the square dances are now
with tho opposites the heads and sides dance together
al find literary men and college professors the the
hardest TO teach,1 continued the professor. They
can carry the whole formula Of dance in their minds
but to find r. extremely difficult TO ACQUIRE Ihao
elasticity and rhythm Of motion Or Wh se sepean s
ladies' usually lea-n from their friends. and only those
ladies who find It impossible to learn IN any other way
necessary for a gentleman taking course OF lessons
We have certain number OF young ladies' that we can
call on. An appointment IS always made with them
when they are needed and they are always treated
with the utmost Difference. Where they arc employed
regularly they from $15 TO $50 week. and when
they are employ ed for private lessons they receive 81
an hour II is far more healthful exercise for
Young woman than working in store. and AT the
same time the remuneration IS ahovc the average
AN EXCELLENT FORM OF EXERCISE.
"By the present mode of dancing every muscle IN
the body IS exercised As an exercise 10 Is now con-
sdercd to be superior horseback riding and parents
send their children here to acquire graceful carriage
we teach persons dance all the way from five years
h., -
fve learn to darcc we'll and derive as much If not
more amusement from the exercise than grown people
To be good dancer 1t is necessary, as In all other
thrgs to get the first principles firmly hxed In your
mind Any combination that can possibly be IN
vented can be learned in ten minutes II you know the
cardinal principles and apply them. The trouble
with most people IS that they don't know wha they
are doing. Practically, they don't Know whether
lLey are sliding or hopping. OF that Is the
fault of the teachers to great extent as they do not
carefully anayze the dances
They AN show how a step should be taken, but
they cannot explain it, can teach class while
ciples and VIII not move 700. pu. 40 !, ai :.
talking According to my way OF thinking there are
only five movements: the slide. the step. charge, leap
and hop, ard all dances are made ap rom ahc1S
movements Some teachers claim that there are SIX
movements, but have never been able
not consider halt a movement nMars
dance dance that can he @venc for ali The continuation q
those five can only mako 100 I'm all. You can put in
extra movement. however. ana IN mat way the
number OF dances can be largely increased
You must have some curious ex perfences with
some of your pupils ?" said the reporter
oh, yes was the reply. "You have, no doubt.
heard any number of people say they are not able TO
reverse in waltzng They say the same thing to me.
and ask them II they are left handed. They don't
seem realize that they have two feet and that II
they can dance with one foot first they can with the
other. Then again. many seem TO think that when
they they must keep on going around the hall
the same way II there were not Two directions,
Some persons TO think II they can have some one
10 nun them around they will be able 10 dance, but
the fact IS that can dance with partner until
he can dance alone Then, again. the poor dancers
thIak they t have fast music. and clan that they
cannot dance II 1t Is not fast. What tries me most.
however IS what cal specialists people who can
only dance by certain piece Of music. IL IS only be-
cause they can't keep time ard even find musicians
who feel that way sometimes. had an organist at
one time who could dance I'm time to only one piece.
and 10 is often harder 10 make singer dance In time
| than q person who has had no musical training
'POSSUM D'TATER.