The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1897-11-24
SHALL THE WALTZ GO?
Professors Think Our Proneness to Romp
Has Killed 1t.

Has Killed 1T.
The hest kncwn GarCing masters OF
New York gave The journal the fellow
ing statements of their views concern
. ing the waltz:
Professor AuSusto Francioi said: cit
is true that the waltz as Il society dance
Is a thing of the past. 1t Will always
hold its own so long as dancing Is done
ON the stage. The reason for It's dISap-
pearance is the popularity CT the min
net, than which there could not be
more stately or refined dance. My opin-
ion is that the quality of grace is TO be
developed to the exclusion of rclnping.
which has nothing but the exhilaration
Of exercise to recommend 1t. society
people will now affect the minuet and
the gavQt; will learn TO use the arms
with grace in the dance and abandon
that harum Scarum, degenerate, vulgar.
ungraceful thing, tho nineteenth cen
tury waltz and its hoidenish compan-
ions, the Quickstep aud polka and the
like.
Il believe we are to enjoy rcuais-
sance Of the beautiful cOstuming of the
middle ages, necessary accompanl-
ment Of the reform in dancing. "
Professor Lawrence Dare said: 1.-The
waltz kas become romp. am sorry
to say it, but l must put the blame
where it belongs, at the door of the col
lege boy College boys presume upon
the amount of their fathers money.
They claim a freedom that no gentle
man should want They back lady
about without fear or favor lave
found in my 20 years experience as a
dancing master that the college boy is
the one need to watch in my classes.
HE does not realize that the rule Of
dancing is always to take care Of the
lady. He violates this by backing her
about as though he were moving fur
niture. Go to any college dance TO con-
firm this. So long as the college boys
rule on the dance noor continues the
waltz will be in allegiance. The two
step in slower time will be its sncces-
sor.
Oscar Duryca said: "The two step is
the leader. The secret of its success is
that it is easy Of accomplishment. It
requires no art to acquire it. 1t can be
easily learned III one lesson, while it
takes a season or two to thoroughly
master the waltz. There is more inSpi-
ration in the music Of the quickStep,
because it is quicker and the American
must hurry, even in his amusement y
waltz Is not scch unless it Is danced
to slow, dreamy music. You cannot
hasten the tempo Of waltz without
spelling it. The reason for the present
decadence CT the waltz | take to be two
fold. Its rival, the two step, is more
easily learned and can be danced with
greater rapidity, thus appealing to the
American love Of rush"
Professor T. George Dodworth said:
''The disfavor shown the waltz is due
to the rompins introduced into it of late
years. The two step brought ont much
boisterousness that was carried into
other dances, the waltz among others.
Tie very young set is chiefly responsible
for this. There have been those who
have always waltzed and danced the
step in scdate manner. \ great inter
est is being shown IL the old fashioned,
stately dances, as the menuet de la cour,
the gavot and the l'avane. These were
the dances in vogue i'll the time Of the
Louis and require much training in
grace of arm and body. 1t is usually
more difficult for Gen than women to
accomplish this grace. Glasses have
been organized especially for the benefit
to be derived from practicing these state
" court dances. The interest i'll these
old dances has been more marked III New
York l have been surprised to learn
how little interest has been taken IN
them in other cities. New York is lead
ing in taste for these dances. .