Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-27
THE ART OF DANCING.
Importance of Learning to Dance-What
Constitutes Good Dancer.


From the earliest times the Importance OF
dancing in promoting that desirable COM
| bination, a sound mind in sound body,
has been recognized by all nations. A good
dancer cannot be an ungraceful man OF
woman. On the other hand, unless the
pupil is taught properly, he will never at
| tain that proficiency in the art which is to
| distinguish him from the awkward creature
who has never learned to carry himself with
| grace and dignity.
Perhaps the most popular academy for
| the teaching of dancing is that of Prof. r.
| F. Thuma, assisted by his brother and
sister. Prof Thuma POUNDS all his instruc-
tion upon the principles laid down by Del
sarte. That is to say, grace of movement
receives as much attention as the mere
teaching of steps. Pupils are taught to
walk. bow, enter and leave the room grace
fully, and to deport themselves generally
with that ease which is essential in good
society. To further this object, the assem-
blies at the Thuma Academy, Ga Fourth
avenue, are conducted on the plan of
private parties. Three ladies, mothers of
pupils, will act as chaperones on each even
ing. These chaperones will be invited to
take part, and there will be different ladies
in that capacity on the several evenings.
The young ladies will be instructed in the
rules of receiving and entertaining, and
each will be thoroughly grounded in all the
duties that fall to hostess. This is some
thing entirely new, but it has already be-
come very popular. Many young people
who know in a general way how to conduct
themselves creditably in society are at a
loss on some points of etiquette that may
confront them at any moment.
The young men receive due share of
attention at the Thuma Academy. Every
young man who goes into society should
know how to take leading part in the
ballroom on occasion. Yet how few there
are, comparatively, who can do this COM
fortably to themselves and satisfactorily to
their friends Prof Thuma makes a
specially of teaching the german" to
young men, with all the latest and most
fashionable variations in that distinctly
fashionable cotillon.
A half hour every evening is devoted to
the study of Delsarte. The philosophy of
this great authority on grace and beauty is
thoroughly explained, together with its re-
lation to dancing. Every pupil gets the
benefit of this half hours study.
The Thuma Academy has for years been
famous for its success in the instruction of
children. 1t has produced some of the
cleverest little ones in this art that have
ever left any school in the United States.
Stage dancing OF all kinds can be learned at
the academy, the professor being always in
formed as to the latest style that has become
popular in the East and in Europe
The assembly room at the Thuma Acad-
envy is as beautiful as taste and lavishness
can make it, 1t is lined with immense mir
rors, so that one seems to look down long
vistas into space, apparently unending. The
tints of the walls and ceiling are old rose,
bordered by a frieze of Tuscan rcd. This
gives delightfully."- rich air to the hall.
The windows are shaded by lambrequins of
rose tint, embroidered with daisies and
swordgrass. Portieres of the same kind of
material as the lambrequins indicate the
entrances to dressing rooms. These are pro-
vided with all the necessaries for the toilet.
Incandesent lights give brilliant illumina-
ton. that abomination of the esthetic soul,
the center chandelier, being conspicuous by
its absence, and the appointments generally
are in perfect harmony with the spirit of
music that finds here so congenial an abid-
ing place.