Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-17
THE TWO NEW DANCES.
A waliz-NTinuet That is Expected to Be
Popular This Season-Work of the Danc-
ing Professors, CanYenIions-A Number

Waliz-N NIinuet That is Expected TO Be
Popular This Season-Work of the Danc-
ing Professors' Conventional Number
of entertainments.
The "Lavenir'' and the "Waltz-Minuet are
the new dances that will delight the devotees
of the art this coming season. so says Prof. r.
F. Thuma, who returned yesterday from the
Convention of the National Dancing Teachers
Association, which was held in Washington
and Baltimore last week. Il think the waltz
minuet will be the most popular" said Prof.
Thuma. The idea originated from Strauss,
and his apparent desire TO temper the vigor Of
the waltz As the name indicates, it unites
the popular dance of our grandparents and
the much-abused waltz of our own times in a
very pretty new dance. It commences
with the minuet step. which, after one round
of the room is made, develops into regular
waltz step. The music for the minuet portion
of the dance is slow, and the time strongly
marked, while tho waltz step is \ trifie slower
than the waltz is ordinarily danced.
"lt is much more easily learned than the
pavenir, which is really quite difficult, as was
demonstrated by the fact that the professors
had to be instructed before they could dance
it, while with the waltz-minuet they caught
on to the step Immediately. 1t is, however,
very pretty dance of the round variety. and in
cludes the steps of the schottische waltz, galop,
and new step slightly different from any Of
the now popular dances. The music to which
it is danced is sprightly. and the scene pre-
sented by ballroom full of people dancing 1t
will be'enchanting. 1t starts with schottische
step; then the music quickens to o ga.op, and
atterward as quickly slows to more stately
measure that somewhat resembles minuet,
save that it is faster. The last step of a
Pavenir can scarcely be described it more
nearly resembles waltz in quick-step time
than anything else, if such a thing we're pos
sible. In the various figures of the dance the
gentleman puts his arm about the lady's waist,
as in the waltz, holds his left hand in her right,
and they dance forward, side by side, both fac
ing in the same direction. with graceful, Gid
ing step, and their progress to the galop Is the
The natofel lanciers was readopted at the
convention" continued the professor, ''and
uniform method of teaching will be adhered to
by oil the members of our association. That is
one of the objects of the conventions, you
know, to establish uniformity in teaching that
will enable a person taught in one city to dance
with perfect ease the dances of any other city
where they may be visiting or stopping. OF
course, the waltz never will be uniformly
danced, each city and clique of dancers having
their own special kink on that ever popular
dance. and good dancer can easily adjust his
step and manner of dancing to that of his part
ner, so that it affords no embarrassment. But
with the new dances that are being introduced
We hope to establish uniform manner of
dancing, and in time think, the two associa-
tions. the one of which am member and the
American Society of Professors of Dancing o
which Prof Brooks is a member, and which
meets next week, will in the course of time be
united. As it is. great many dancing masters
belong to both associations"
With desire to ascertain whether or no
Prof. Brooks entertained the same opinion re-
gardlng the unions of the two great assoeia-
tions. and also if he contemplated Introducing
any new dances of his own composition, at the
convention this year, as he did last, visit was
paid to his dancing academy, but the professor
was not to be found. At Mrs. Slack Davis
parlors, however, an interview was gained
with Miss Davis, refined little lady in stylish
black dress that accentuated the clearness of
her complexion and the brilliancy of brown
eyes, and her indignation when asked if she had
been to the convention last week. or would at
tend the coming cne brought tiny tinge of
color to each cheek that made her a very pleas
ing picture, and interesting, too, for her re-
marks were spicy. NO indeed; we never at
tend any OF these public conventions; we never
even teach anything that they recommend, if
we can possibly avoid it."
"Well, but where do you get your dancesf"
queried the interrogation.
"Oh. we originate some, and then we go to
Europe every other year and get all that is new
over there. but never to these association con-
ventions. Only third and fourth rate teachers
attend them, and we are very particular about
whom we enroll and what we teach"