The times., 1899-07-25
PROPOSED DANCE REFORM
The Bear Hug Waltz to Be
Relegated to the Past.
Tie Modern Method. Which Is Of
fcnsive. Is Too Much in Vogue In
WashinSton-siiss Marie Leonardo
Relieves the Time Has Come to
stop n Very Objectionable Custom.

The crusade against the present abuse of
the gentle art OF dancing has begun. Two
correspondents have written letters to The
Times within two days complaining of the
repulsive sights witnessed by them in the
dancing pavilions at the various pleasure
resorts around the city. A storm of pro-
test las been aroused and it is said that
the catch as -catcil-caii" waltz and two
step must go. A strong reform movement
is on foot TO bring the aerobatic exhibitions
at present INDUCED in under the mask OF
the formerly graceful dances, to an untime-
ly end. The convention OF the National AS
sociation of Dancing Masters. which was
held at Niagara Fails last week, adopted =
rigid rule that no member OF that body
should tolerate the Yale rush" two-step
or the 'bsar hug" waltz in his academy,
and that all members OF the association
should refuse to teach pupil those styles
of tripping the light fantastic toe.
This rule was adopted after several years
of protest. during which period the popular
dances dsseneratsj from a graceful, harm
less, dreamy round CT pleasure to a test
of strength and endurance, with hardly
any two couples in hall holding their
partners alike. The crusade has begun and
it is expected that the science of dancing
Will be restored and the present department,
die out.
The present method of pulling off, a
waltz. which is popular at all of the many
pleasure resorts in and around the Dis
trict and is known as the bear hug is for
| the participants to rush into one another's
! arms. both parties hugging and the hands
meeting in the centre of the back. Then
while the orchestra renders dreamy music
the couple hold together and make des-
perate attempt TO initiate the movements
used in waltzing. AT some of the resorts
! these scenes resemble a practice tackle and
| rush between male and female football
| teams.
In an interview last night. Miss Marie
| Leonardo, who has just returned from the
convention of the National Association of
Dancing Masters, stated that the adoption
! of the rule forbidding the teaching of the
vulgar system Of department now in vogue
was the best piece of legislation ever en-
acted for the preservation Of the science
of dancing. Miss Leonardo is one of the
best known dancers in the country, and
has diploma as premiere danseuse' from
| the National Association. She is the
daughter OF Prof. Leonardo. now retired.
who was for nearly thirty years famed
as an instructor from Boston to Chicago.
| No lover of the beautiful or the grace
! full could tolerate the offensive process
| hAuNH GS lHe DedT mug, Sdl1 MISS
| Leonardo, and we have objected to it on
moral, hygienic. and scientific grounds.
| There was but one way in which to make
it unpopular and that was to refuse to take
any pupil who desired anything but the
good, clean, graceful method OF dancing,
and to refuse to allow anyone to dance un-
J less proper department were exhibited We
| can now make the scientific waltz of our
| fathers fashionable once more and the
modern styles will drop
There is much talk of the modern
| waltz, but there is no such thing as mod
ern waltz. The glide waltz of today was
! first taught in Boston in 1859 by Prof. W.
n. Bell. who laid out a science in the art.
This was the true waltz and it has ever
remained popular until recent years, when
the hop. skip. and jump system was adopt
ed by the great mass who had little time
| to devote TO learning the art properly. and
! who wanted to get on the floor of dance
/ hall with fair partner after the first les
| son. There is nothing so pleasing to the
| eye as a graceful Walter and few things
! so repulsiye as a clumsy partner who has
full confidence in, his ability to jump
around to music
As nearly every dancing instructor in
| the city is a member OF the national as
| sociation it is held that a reform is on the
way and the Yale rush will soon be rele-
gated into the forgotten past.