The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1895-12-29

walk four steps, turning half round
on the fourth. and repeat After that
take waltz position with your partner
aud so through sixteen. measures. Then
return 10 the two-step."
There you have the Trilhy. The golf
Is just as easy. II Is an adaptation of
the old two>step also, and, like the Trilby
! and also like the sport from which II
takes its name, has n good bit of walk
ing, which possibly accounts for the diili
Guilty explained above. That walking
saves the dancer the fatigue OF the con.
tinuul turning Of the regular two-stcp
II Is simply glide movement in two
step time in militairc position with the
partner.
NEW Works. MOST POPULAR
DANCE.
The varsouvianna. In which tho New
York lovers of dancing are gallivanting
over the ballroom floors, Is more compli-
Gated. II is combination of polka.
rcdowa, magourka and glide waltz. Slow
music and mclodious tunes are necessary
for II. Competent dancers who want
to add another to their rercrtory may
learn varsouvianna from this descrip-
ton:
First part. polka redowa. ono measure:
point left in second, one measure. Polka
rcdowa to left, one measure. Repeat the
above instructions, In all, eight measures.
The second part alternntes into two
measures OF maxourka and one polka
reioWa. Use the maxourka for two
measures. commencing with the left foot.
The polka redowa in the first part Is
made by turning alternately from left
10 right. Two quick slides may be In
troduced by expert dancers TO advantage.
providing certain grace Of movement
much to be desired.
The varsouyianna is an outgrowth of
the revival of an old dance. Inc posi-.
ton for II is the same as in the mill
tary schottischc The music is more In
spiri,ng and the waltz step more fro
quently employed, The Maryland, an
by having tho chase step interminglcd
with the glide Brilliant. dashy music
is necessary for the Maryland.
TIE PRISONER OF ZENDA.
The Prisoner of Zenda dance is really
not II dance. 1t is the invention of
Horace w. Beck, who Is just about to
Introduce ii, and II gives promise of being
popular. Ii has the advantage, anyway,
OF an association in name, Mt least, with
u book and u play that have sunk them
selves well into popular favor. The fig
ure itself is simple. and INDUCES that
desire which many young folks have for
masquerade, tinsel costumes and paper
swords to go with clam hammer coats
and dancing pumps. To perform the
figure several dancers are called TO the
floor and divided into two columns of
couples. One of these columns Is led by
the king, the Red Elphbcrg aud the
Princess Flavia, and the other by Black
Michael and his lady, all appropriately
Costumed. the king having n red wig,
Black Michael II scowl and other things
to make him black. and 80 on. Each of
the gentlemen carries n sword, and at
one end of the hall should be prison Ia
t,.,t ,,st L..
this ease better than one of stoncl, which
has an important part in the perform
nncc of the figure.
The action begins when the column of
dancers headed by Black Michael
marches to the middle of the floor and
forms an arch by crossing swords, I'm
der this arch marches the other column
Of dancers, the last couple being the
king and the Princess Fla,ia. As they
pass under the last swords of the arch
Black Michael has the king seized and
chained md led away by the ak" to
the paper prison. This act is the signal
for battle between the forces of the
king. now under the leadership OF the
young Englishman. Rudolph Rnsscndyll,
who countcrfcits the king, and the forces
of Black Michael. The former, of
course are victorious They put Mich
acfs men TO rout, tear down the paper
walls of the prison and the liberated king
dances away with the Princess Flavia.
The figure does not require much prep
aration, all that is required being
couplr Of red wigs for the Elphhcrg and
the Englishmnn. II helmet for Black
Michael and whatever distinguishing Bit
Of costume is necessary FOR THE six
and paper enough to build toy prison
house, The dance il also simple and
easily taught aud ii has the charm of
being novel and up TO date.
But after all has been said aud done
about the new dances, the old forms nre
still considered to Ice the best md are
most used. I'm polite society says A.
II. Bourniquc, "the dances most used
are the waltz. deuX temps, or two-step.
glide polka and quatro-tcmpts or four
step gallon. There are not many now
dances this season. but what new ones
there are do not dispnce the old. That
IS in polite society they do not There
nre probably dance halls where all the
know about that, but in polite society
the forms have named are most popu-
lar and rank IN popularity In the order
in which ! have named them. The nov
elites come and the novelties go, but
people never tire Of the polka, the gallop
and the waltz These three dances have |
all the movements. which, combined,
make all the other dances"
Mr.. Bournique's views are seconded by |
Mr.. Beck ms far as the popularity of |
the old forms 20, but the hitter gives |
rather more time and attention to the |
novelties. Both agree that the german
is and should be as popular ms IT ever
WAS especially for private entertain
mcnts and parties. The german Is
danced at all the best parties and in all
t.Iurps .yhprp pputptl npOUlp and not |