Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-05-14

The foundation Of the art OF ballet
dancing Is conceded 10 be the five posi-
tlons OF the feet, and these positions &C.
cupy the young pupils attention for a
long time before they are permitted
TO execute a regular step.
The first position requires
the meeting Of the heels so as TO bring
the feet to form a straight line. The
knees must be- turned out and the upper
part Of the body must retain al easy,
graceful position. These FIVE positions
must be repeated twenty-five times
each. After the feet have had q chance
come the hips and back. Every posture
is assumed that tends to impart grace
and suppleness to this part OF the anat-
omy. After this the arms receive a great
deal OF attention, and the pupils are
every way impressed that the arms are
wonderfully potent In the expression OF
grace and feeling. The discipline
Of the legs is, perhaps. after all
the most important factor in the
ballet, and great care is bestowed
upon their education. The little girls,
after some practice, become quite
skilled In taking holdiof their heel with
one hand while twirling around 10 a
semicircle. These are out a few OF the
most simple exercises. As the time
passes the more complicated and exact
ing becomes the work.
During the intermissIons the pupils
are allowed to "show of" and many a
dainty little fairy ventures to display
her budding talent. Here comes a slen-
L.. lfstIo kr,,affa uuifh HarE anrlQ and
Jet black eyes. She is dressed 10 q
scarlet decollette bodice aud gauze
skirts, with stockings OF the same far
ing color. She dances with eltsb grace
and impish Rlee, looking like a saucy,
slender poppy tossed by a laughing
breeze. Her rival Is a roguish little
blonde In a costume OF daintiest blue.
Her movements are full Of a youthful,
blllowy grace that speaks OF a bril-
liaut future. In reply TO a question II
Chicago or New York would ever have
| schools like those OF the capitals In Ed
rope devoted exclusively TO the ballet,
Mr.. Kiralfy said he doubted 1t very
much. He thought that'the work was
altogether too exacting and the pay In
sufficient. The best dancers we have,
he continued. are the Italians. They
combine an elegance OF figure and
| grace In execution that CANNOT be found
in any other nation. They, however,
lack one essential ia not always
being endowed with an over lib
eral share OF good sense. For
natural born dancers he thought the
English girls stood very high indeed.
They have q remarkably correct q
and take to dancing with wonderful
aptitude, though they as a rule have
poor figures. In France the ballet has
deterlorated because Of lack Of atten-
ton. Russians hold the ballet In very
high esteem, and furnish plenty Of
splendid prima ballerinas. Above all
Mr.. Kiralfy placed the American girl.
| She has more brains, more style, and Is
| quicker than any 'other nationality.
| She would make the most ideal ballet
| dancer, but she is too independent 10
become one.
DANCING AS A wFIGHT-REDUcER.
Dancing was recently recommended
10 a fashionable society woman to re-
| duce her increasing avoIrdupois. . pas
time which she had long since ceased TO
enjoy. She acted at once on the sng-
g~estion, however, inviting the stout
matrons among her acquaintances. who
were equally eager to do anything TO
accomplish the desired result. In her
long drawing room, twice q week, they
have polkaed, waltzed and galoped to
piano music furnished by q profession
] al. 1t has proved a great success. the
| leader of the frolic having lost nearly