Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-29

ar. not meant Then the dancers simply
wore Their bicycle clothes and tripped
through the mazes OF the waltz and
iancers on their toes.
The bicycle dance in the 1896 meaning
Of the term Is quite a different thing.
The dancers do all the dancing on the
bikes. and the man. or girl who isn't
an expert 'cycler had better not attempt
the terpsichorean on wheels until he or
she IS a full-nedged expert. tumble on
a ballroom floor Is never dignihed
proceeding, and when IL is accelerated
tv the speed OF a rapidly-moving bike the
results are sometimes amazing.
The bicycle dance is the creation OF
the men and women who make up the
fashionable Michaux Club in New YORK.
II is here that ali the women of the
swagger set have learned how TO ride
and now that they have mastered ths
ordinary intucacies Of the wheel they are
looking for new fields to conquer
So far the dancing is confined 10 the
evolutons Of the rollicking Virginia reel
and eight men and eight women are
wfciently expert 70 so through II with
out anything approaching mishap oc-
curing. They have already given an
exhibition OF the dance to their friends
and now they are Arranging for figures
0; d more intricate character.
DANCED TO FAST MUSIC.
The bicycle reel is very pretty. and
when the music is played in fast measures
Il is much more exciting than the ordl-
nary reel. The dancing 'cyclers range
themselves in two lines along the hail.
The TWO end couples ride toward each
other and IN the centre make a sharp
turn 90 the left and with their wheels
a. a hair-raising angle circle around one
fra tn
respective places
While this is going on the other couples
stand alongside their bicycles. ready
20 mount al a seconds notice. The riding
II done very rapidly. and the sharp
turns made make the uniniUated specta-
tors catch their breath. Each couple
n turn goes through the figure until
al have made the dance.
DANGER OF COLLISIONS.
The Virginia reel Is a pretty and en-
l1ening dance when executed in the old
fashioned way but when the evolutions
Hre accomplished with the high speed
o. the bicycle Il is doubly fascinating.
The great art Of the dance lies In the
ability Of the riders 10 avoid collisions.
One collision would be sufficient to de-
ftroy the fun. fact which can be easily
appreciated by any one who has par
tclpated IN a bicycle smash-up.
After the success OF the Virginia reel
has been demonstrated the members OF
Ne M.chaux Club decided 20 give
iancy-Gress dance Immediately after
Easter. when the religious scruples or
ZONE % the members Will not interfere
With their taking part.
When this event comes of II Is ex-
pfcie1 that several dances VIII be IN
tro5noed, which can be safely performed
by the expert riders. che crack 'cy-
clis,s OF the club are now at work
creating these figures, but they find II
slow work. as few men or women can
change suddenly from forward riding 10
backward riding.
THE BIKE oUADRILLE.
One man has evolved a dance IN
which the principal figure is that Of
hands -all-around." -Four couples take
part IA this. the same as in the ordinary
euadulle and about six times as much
noor-space IS required as when the dance
Is performed In the ordinary way.
This figure requires the exercise OF
considerable skill. as the hands cam
not rest on the handle-bars for more
than a second or two and all the guild
Ing 81 the machine must be done by
the swaying OF the body. and the def
use OF one hand for an instant On the
handle. This figure is now being prac-
tced, and II success Is made OF II
several OF the most simple figures Of the
suadrille and lancers will be added
10 H.
In this way the enthusiasts hope TO
create regular series OF figures. which
will 20 down 10 posterity as the official
bicycle-dance. Some OF the men thought
II would be possible 10 have bicycle
waltz. but they reiinguished the idea
after several bad falls, and when three
or four machines had been smashed.