The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-12-14
NOVEL AND PRETTY
An Exhibition of Dancing in
Astoria Last Night.
Mr.. BEees scoR S A SUCCESS
Forty of His Pupils Drew a Splendid
House and Gave a Beautiful and
Creditable Entertainment.

To provide amusement and to present
a satisfactory evenings entertainment
having for its sole attraction the art oi
Terpsichore is difficult enough, but to
present such performance with anna
teurs, Gavlng no acquaintance with work
in public, is infinitely harder. Success
therefore, is all the more satisfactory and
commendable, and Professor ]. N. Beggs
at Fishers Opera House last night, scored
a decided triumph with the large class OF
apt and brilliant pupils of his dancing
academy. Most dancing masters who oc-
casionally present public performances by
their pupils generally fill in the major
/ part of the evening with angels, doves,
tableaux and colored fire. All this is
very pretty but 1t is not a correct or a
legitimate exposition of dancing methods.
Mr.. Beggs' entertainment is. He devotes
every portion of 1t to some department of
the art, and the brightness of each num-
Der, combined last night with a perfect
knowledge of the public taste, delighted
and entertained everybody who was pres
ent.
The house was crowded In every part
and large number of people We're unable
to find seats. The opening number a
Grand Pageant of all Nations" introduc-
ed in very effective manner, and filled
the stage with bright faces and pretty
costumes. Several specialt'es were crowd
ed into the first part of the program, and
all were most excellently performed, fully
equalling professional work, and invaria-
. bly, allipg, forth encores. A double Scot
'tish, sword dance, and Highland fling
by four young ladies, Misses Halves, Le-
herman, Stone and Curtis, were particu-
larly good. A Sailors Hornpipe by Mas,
ters Stone and Trullinger brought down
the house, and a Scotch and Irish Reel
by the Misses Trenchard and Hawes, and
Masters Stone and Trullinger, was excel
lent 1.-THE March of the Amazons." an
intricate and beautiful marching exhibit,
tion by sixteen young ladies, captained
by one of the senior pupils, was one of
the best portions of the whole entertain>
ment. Misses Hawes, Stone, Trenchard
and Leberman danced a skirt dance that
could not have been excelled. The skirt
dance, performed with anything like the
sprightliness and grace that should al
ways accompany 1t, is one of the hardest
of all exhibition dances The performers
never made a mistake and showed in
every way how carefully and conscien,
tiously they had been trained.
The interlude was filled in by Professor
Navoni, leader of the orchestra, who de- |
lighted the audience with a Fantasia OF |
Yankee Doodle on the violin. Responding |
to an encore that would not be denied,
he gave the "Mocking Bird" and a |
quaint Norwegian air, both of which were
handled in mastery manner.
The second part opened with a Spanish |
Cachonca by Miss Stone, who, while she
had not full control of her castanets,
danced with great deal of grace and |
precision Professor RepPs' exhibition
with five young pupils followed In this
number the professor went through sew
eral dances, old and new, and showed the
audience by practical illustration, his
method of teaching. An Erminle gavotte,
and Minuet a la Occur, performed in
10th century costume by lG of the older
pupils, were both very pretty and formed
'n effective contrast to the more spright-
y modern numbers that had preceded
them. An Irish jig in uniform" by five
boys was very funny, and the same per-
formaners in a skirt dance provided a
great deal of amusement for everybody
A grand tableau of nations concluded the
performance.
Professor Beggs is to be heartily con-
graduated on the result of the entertain,
nent. The success attending IL and the
surprising talent shown by every pup
Who appeared on the stage were fitting
ributes to his methods and ability. No
more excellent evenings amusement has
,ver been provided in this city.
The scenery, specially painted for the
occasion, was all handsome and effective
Tbe orchestra was the largest and best
hat has ever appeared at the theatre.
The performance will very probably be
epeated.