The herald., 1895-11-17

doubtedly a great attraction, the individ-
ual dancer OF late years has not accom-
plisbed much in tho way of recognition.
The legitimate artist who has devoted
her life from young childhood to the
study OF dancing has been oevrshadowed
by her gymnastic sister, the specially
woman, VINO can kick foot higher than
her head or who can manipulate her
vuluminous skirts in risky fashion in
the varied glare of the calcium. Stage
dancing has suffered like the drama
Horse play farce comedy has crowded
Shakespeare to the wall and the SKIRT
dancing contortionist has usurped the
finely trained artist. Opt!mists claim
that revolution Is near at hand and
that the new era will revel in dignity and
true art.
The great dancers of so and 100 years
ago were popular idols. There were al
ways three or four rivals who claimed
the title of queen OF tbs ballet and the
public took sides with one or the other.
A new step was discussed in the clubs,
the wine shops and the drawing rooms.
The feuglsr tneater-goers were good
judges OF the art and used technical
terms, OF which the present generation
know nothing, in describing the evolu.
tions OF their favorites.
For instance, it was remarked during
the height Of her fame that Marie Taglioni
was dancer OF the demicaractere. =" 70
the average admirer of the ballet this
phrase would be sore puzzler today.
end he would have to hide his lgnoarnce
by saying "Unquestionably" or
"There's no doubt about it," The term
mean. that the dancer was perfect in
those be utIful little half steps which
more than any other correspond to the
epithet "twlnkling, "lavisned by poets on
the feet OF dancer.
This same Taglionl was really the
queen Of her kind. She was talked and
written about as much as Patti or Irving
are today. For many years she was the
rage and conn anded fabulous sums for
those days, $500 a night being her regular
fee Iyette Guibert, the Partisan carl.
catur.t and singer OF qnest enable songs,
earns 900 900 francs year nowadays. and
Il Il said that she mas signed contract
with an American manager which calls
Tor pay at the rate of $1,000 week, inGlud-
ing the time that she is travelling back
and fo'th. This in itself trlls the story
OF the publiG's theatrical taste OF nifty
years ago and today.
1aglioni died as recently as 1884. al.
though she began her stage career in 1922.
Like many celebrated dancers, she be-
came fanOus at q bound, when at the age
Of u che appeared in Vienna in balat
ARA ged by her father who was himself
dancer. Her first appearance in Egg
land took place a. 1929 at the Kings the
ater and sac also appeared under the
management Of Bum, who eivss some
particulars regarding the salary required
by TINS esprit Of the Air." For
herself she was TO receive loo pOands each
night she danced, and to have two bene-
hts. when the manager guaranteed to
prodncc 1900.
Her father re eiyed goo for acting as
ballet master during ner visit. and neI
bfOt er and sisteT-in-lag were engaged to
support her al salary of $500. Small
wonder that the 'spiri, OF the Air.
J moasse u lares fortune, which she lost,
! poor IRiy, through the Franco-German
war. Bnt popular as she was ut the time
| BInn engaged her. the climax OF her
Loudon popularity vas not reached until
/ l5Ib, under the management OF Benjamin
! Lumley, when her triumph in the Pas de