The record-union., 1897-08-22
DANCING And MANNERS.
COUNTESS OF ANCASTER OP-
POSES MODERN SYSTEMS.
Degeneration of Society Ascribed
to the Rapid Time of
the Waltz.

Must the art of dancing be added to
the number of the lost arts?"
Has dancing at society balls degen-
Grated into a graceless ronnp?
And has the "old-fashioned courtesy
gone the way the minuet has gone and
the stately quadrille is going?
These questions are suggested by a
| correspondence which is now running
in the organ of the English aristoc-
racy," the Morning Post" and which
was started by the Countess of An
caster who, it~may be remembered,
contributed chapter to the Badmin-
ton library issue on dancing. Premis-
ing that most young men in London
start at nineteen or twenty with no
more knowledge of dancing than they
have been able to pick up from their
sisters or anyhow" and that few will
deny that in the art of dancing we
have deteriorated," Lady Ancaster
says:
The only dance which can claim in
the true sense of the word to be one at
all in the present day is the valse. and
I do not for a moment deny that there
are many who dance this graceful
dance beautifully. Only it is being
]
is continued will be spoiled as other
| dances are. owing to the pace-simply
galloped through to no step at all
great fun, no doubt, but not dancing.
Doubtless balls reflect the life of the
present day, one perpetual rush, and no
one can take their pleasures calmly.
Surely it is not the perfection of hap
piness to discover the art of perpetual
| motion, which is what this generation
seems to be trying to do.
A LITTLE MORE COURTESY.
Might we not hope to see some CT
the graceful yet stately dances re-
vived, or would it not be possible to
invent a dance of this description if
none of the old ones commend them
selves to modern ideas? Many charm
ing people never can and never should
attempt round dances; why are they
to be left out in the cold altogether?
And then for those who ara no longer
so very young, how often they would
enjoy a quiet dance which now they
never have. Our young people are full
of life and spirit, and yet withal very
charming and willing to please, so that
I do not for a moment doubt they
would fall in with a change III the
style of dancing if they knew it was
1t is with this view I have ventured
to call attention to this subject, and,
though times change and manners
| change, still I am sure that little Old
fashioned courtesy, a little ceremony, q
| greater desire to participate with 9TH
ers in giving pleasure, would be of
advantage to us ALL
LESS OF THE TOMBOY ELEMEIT.
Mrs. Anne H. Thyme followed Lady
Ancastcr's lead with a letter in which
she wrote: Dancing should be the
| expression Of high born instincts and
feeling, and yet the very reverse Of
this shows itself in those ball rooms
where this should be distinctive fea-
ture. A step backward is what we
want-nore of the dignity of our
great t-grandmothers, and less of the
tomboy and romping element which it !.
is libel to call dancing to-day. The fast
whirl and stamp OF the present style,
with no attention, or very seldom any,
to time, cffends both eye and ear and
can be 30 pleasure to the genuire lover
of dancing. OF course, bali ronms are
much more crowded than formerly AMI
| hence the difficulty, perhaps, Of regu-
lating the dances, but could there not
be maitres de ceremonie who should
arrange a given number at a time,
clearing a space in which steps could
really be performed, and giving breath
ing space to those who could sit around
till their turn came? Then the good
teaching (of which there is plonty)
could be shown to advantage, and the
more stately dances Of former DAYS
might be interspersed with the square
dance and waltz of to-day Would no.
this be possible? Surely, AMI I ven
ture to say that with the greater dig
nifty and grace which these dances de-
mand would come a greater dignity and
grace to the manners Of society in gen.
eral. Less pushing an1 more court
esy."
"GRACELESS AND ROWDT."'
After this "A Young Dancing Man"
suggested the adoption of the Vortaen-
zer of Germany or danseurs en- ayant CT
France, arguing that with space to
dance in and a certain amount Of or
der 20 conform to people would care
more how they looked when they
danced, and would asuredly enjoy il
moro. OF the Washington Post or the
barn dance the less said the better.
They are not Dances they are but
the graoeless. rowdy outcome of an art
less would-be dancer"
Louis d'Egville. whose authority
in the matter nur4e can dispute, writes
as follows: THE old quairille. which
is still danced (or walked) at court
balls, is, perhaps, the most suitable
ensemble or figure dance for society
balls, not only because it's simple fig
ures are easily learned but also Le-
cause it has never lent itself to the
'awfully jolly but uncouth violence and
the insane vulgarity which in this
country are so frequently associated
with the lancers. 1t is, however, a con-
venient dance for showing off to adj
vantage the varied and gorgeous cos
tunes worn at fancy dress balls. ana
can, anyhow, be as easily walked
through by Cardinal Wolsey or Cleo
patra as it can be by Nelson or Ma
poleon The quadrille croise, or CON-
pound cuadrille, is a most ingenious
and fascinating arrangement of the old
dance but it has never. to my knowl-
edge, appeared in any of our English
balls. Finally, / fully agree with Lady
Ancaster that a little Old-fashioned
courtesy (now so seldom met with)
would be of great advantage to US ALL"
European Edition New York Herald.