Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-06
Written for The Evening Star.
JAPANESE DANCERS.
The Curious POsings of the GeishG
Gfrls-French Dancers.


Gfrls-French Dancers.
To the foreigner in Japan the dancing Of
the geisha girls is at first a disappointment.
Dancing without steps seems no dancing
at all. 1t ought to be known simply as
posing" indeed. it might iustifably be
called hand posing
One Is invited to a theater-in Nagasaki
for instance. to see the dancing. A heavy
eyed, squabby maiden, swathed in narrow,
trailing, wadded skirts, waddies on to the
stage; she stretches out her arms and turns
her hands palm-side out; she kneels and
puts her hands together; she treats the
audience to several variations of this nature.
which suggest the old game Bean porridge
hot, bean porridge cold"-played solitaire.
Presently a wooden horse, life size, is
rolled on the stage, the little stage that
seems hardly big enough to accommodate
kitten. The geisha circumambulates this
somewhat inadequate representation of a
noble animal, giving it tender pats about
the face and on the launches, her long,
stiff hands always thrust into prominent
positions. All this is intended to illustrate
a popular legend and does SO, apparently.
with great vividness to the japanese mind,
as the native applause is boisterously en-
thusastic.
The WnsherwOman.
woman" In this dance CD even the pos
ing is inconspicuous. The gesha holds in
each hand by one end scarf of soft white
silk two or three yards long and about
foot wide. These scarfs are flung through
the air in different directions and in vary
ing waves and curves. The deXterity dis
played is marvellous and the effect of fut-
tering wilderness swooping through the air
about the dancer Is grace itself.
Brownie Dance.
A Japanese dance that might well be call
ed a Dance du Ventre was the prominent
feature of dinner party given by a Japa-
nese of high official position to guests of
diplomatic Importance.
AS soon as the men Joined the ladies in
the drawing room after dinner the dining
table was removed, the folding doors thrown
back, and an impromptu stage arranged.
There were dancing girls. singing girls, and
other performers, but the most marvellous
sight was Brownie" that capered around
the stage, comforting mis- face into the
broadcast of smiles then suddenly chang
ing Them to the tallest of frowns 1t was
very big face set directly upon rather
small legs and surmounted by a huge stove
pipe hat. The smile would extend to the
ears, apparently, and at the same time
all the features would broaden in a smash
ed manner. Again, in the twinkling of an
eye. they would narrow into the longest
and straightest countenance imaginable.
Everybody was so much amused, and yet
SO baffied, our host was gratifled and ex-
planned how one of the attaches Of his le-
cation personated the jolly little gnome
The Mystery Explained.
His body, from hips to armpits, was
barred and painted to represent face,
while his arms were thrust upward into
the high hat and concealed there with the
real head and shoulders. II he crouched
ha faat rtroC Of
nattened and broadened; II he stretched
himself upright they heightened OF
course no information was given in regard
to the value of this attache in secret diplo-
matte matters. AS a laughabie mystery
he certainly was successful.
The dancing girls of Japan are slow and
uninteresting in their movements and not
the embodiment of grace according to Eu-
ropean views but their exhibitions are
never brutal or degrading.
In France.
They do not risk their lives and limbs
for the amusement Of the public, as do
certain French ballet girls. These Paris
dancers belong to associations. receive large
salaries and make long engagements like
great actors and actresses, and, like them,
tour to New York sometimes. where they
are paid little fortunes by the month.
The CotiIlon.
1t Is pleasant to turn from the public ex-
hibitions to the private dance of French
festivities-the cotillon-and notice new
ideas which are constantly cropping out
for the winter.
For favor figures there are necklaces made
of ribbon. beads or bells. intended both for
ladies and men-those drawing similar ones
dancing together. These are a success be-
cause they make amusement when they
are placed around a manly neck. The sur
rte o..
appear from the middle OF a cooked hat,
or bouquet of roses, or a large cigar, or a
bottle of champagne.
The butterfly chase. in which the lady
flutters the butterfly and the man attempts
to catch 1t with his net, is graceful.
Another pretty figure Is the milkmaid joke
with its two pals containing the favors for
ladies and men.