Morning journal and courier., 1890-10-14
DANCING BY MACHINERY. The Peculiar Devices Which Axella Employs With Great Effect.
 From the Chicago Tribunel


 From the Chicago Tribune.1
 The stock jokes regarding the antiquity of coryphees and premieres in the average ballet are now and then contradicted by the appearance of @ danseuse, who is not only clever as an artist, but is young and attractive as we'll. Such a one was Signo- ra Bella, the beautiful Italian who danced in this country three or four years ago. Another of the same sort is Clara Qualitz. Quaiitz is an snomaly-a plump premiere; but her avoirdupois is not too great to de- tract from the grace and abandon of her dances. Another young and pretty dan cer was introduced to Chicago audiences in '"The Crystal Slipper recently. Mile. Azella, the flying dancer" is the first to introduce to the stage performance that is unique and a pleasing variation of ster- eotyped ballet dancing. Azella appears before the audience dressed as pigeon. Her mid-air waltz is preceded by charac- ter dance by her assistant, young man who is announced as NJ. Eugene. After M. Eugene becomes weary Azella gets chance for her atmospheric schottische. At first she tries her wings cautiously, as if she were afraid of falling out of the nest; but her flights gradually grow ven turesome till She scars into the air and at last disappears into the clouds in the flies. Azella's aerial gyrations do not continue for more than eight or ten minutes, but in that brief time they vastly astonish the audience, for it is impossible to see how it is done. Of course there are wires, but they are invisible, and the apparatus is deftly concealed. A number of theories have been advanced by spectators who have been unable to see any wire support, and who believe that the flying dance is done in some other way. It has been sug- gested that there are concealed about the wings and costume number of cells which are filled with gas, and that Azella floats like balloon. A reporter went be- hind the curtain at the Chicago opera house last evening just before Azella made her appearance. The dancer presently materialized, clad in her bird, like costume, and explained in Gallic patois the machin- cry used in her speciality. Under the be- witching costume of the white pigeon is a light, strong frame of steel. It must be light because it does not impair the grace full outlines of her figure, and it must be strong to bear the strain upon it. To this are attached score of steel wires which depend from the flies and are fast ened to the frame at various points. The adjusting of the wires must be exact, as Mile. Azella must be precisely balanced or her grace in the air and the ightness of her alighting on the stage would be marred.
 ''Why do you have so many wiress" was asked.
 "Because you see each wire is fine, al- most like thread" replied the danseuse eff they were any larger people would see them, and they are so adjusted as to divide my weight among them. I formerly used fifty wires, but reduced them one by one till found just how few of them would sustain my weight. It requires nineteen wires. When I was experimenting tried eighteen wires one night, but several of them snapped when was right over the heads of the people in the parquet Luckily the other wires were sufficient to let me down gradually to the stage"
 .1And how are the wires operated9 By an assistant2'
 stBy two assistants and machine. You may go up and look at it. It is qnite complicated and am proud of it. I in- vented it myself"
 "Have you never fallen while going through the dance.
 stNo, it is almost impossible to fall, for if several wires break the others last long enough to let me down easily. There is little danger of falling have danced in every European country but one-Portu- gal-and I have never met with any acci- dent excepting the one of which speak D
 The machinery by which the wires are operated from the flies is complicated ar rangement by means of which certain of the wires can be raised and lowered at will, and which give the swaying, flying motion to Azella as she floats through the air. An assistant sits at the machine and works the wires by series of small levers and pulleys.