Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-11-25
THE NEW DANCES.
What Is Considered the Proper Posi-.
ton in Waiting.
How Dances Are Introduced by the Different
Dancing Teachers.

Already society folk, and those inter.
ested in the doings of this class, are
| occupied III planning for it. Whether
| II be an elaborate affair in the ball
room with the oxford minuet, the ger
man and some of the more dignified
dances inspired by full orchestral
| music or simple drawing room affair
with the two-step and waltz, dancing
will be the chief amusement, this win
ter, as it has been from time imme-
mortal.
Every year there are changes. new
dances are introduced or new methods
for dancing the old ones This is the
problem that faces society: (which
of these new methods shall it indorse -
What new dances shall ii adopt"
''But that is matter for the leaders
of dancing to determine" some one ex-
claims: the people merely follow i'll
their lead
1t is a mistaken proposition. how
ever. Society determines for itself what
it likes. and what it likes it does. That
is one of the characteristics of this
part of the social organization. No as
Soclation of dancing teachers is rash
enough TO suppose otherwise or To
titSuiiit tiidt It's power lies beyond tnat
of suggestion. 1t may be agreed upon
by professors of the art that certain
movements are more graceful than
others. or certain positions conductive
to an easy carriage. but those whose
pleasure it is to dance will act accord
ing to their likes and take up fadS as
they please.
1t has been given out that the Amer
lean Society of the Professors Of Dane
ing. which held its annual meeting this
summer. in New York. decided To coun-
trnance as II body new position for
the waltz. The correct position for the
waltz is one Of recurring debate Just
how the .cntleman'S left ana the lady'S
right hand should be- placed. ANA what
angle from themselves their other
hands. clasped. should be held. being
the chief features. The matter which
has seemed to call for IA change from
the established waltzing position which
the enviouS initiated ana "nnn-apprr-
ciatorS of the poetry of motion dub
the hu@SinS match way is that of
the lady'S train. That she may have
one hand free for the manipulation Of
her train the American Society Of Pro
fess"rs Of Dancing. this summer, decid-
ed to sanction Il new position.
The couple, when dancing. will. of
course. face each other. but the gentle
man will let his LIFT arm fall natural
IN at hiS side instead If clasping TN
ladN'@ right hand III the manner now
in vogue. In this position thu. lady has
her right hand fire" for holding up her
train. The gentleman places his right
hand around the laly's waist his wrist
doing the work NJ guiding The lady
has only to respond to its movements.
This new position was suggested in the
society 10y oskar Duenweg. Of Terri
Hautr. Ind. The society passed favor
able Judgment upon it. Whether or
not it is taken " BY the elite Of So
ciety is a matter to b. later deter
mined.
All dancing teachers do not favor the
new position suggested by the Amcri-
can Society nor do they believe that
il will find favor in society The chief
objection to the position seems To be
that it is not a graceful one FOR the
man. He cannot. they say. let his arm
fall naturally He will either hold it
stiff ana awkward or it will 90 swing
ing about III an inelegantly detached
manner. Furthermore. ii is contended
that very few people are SkllIful
enough dancers to be able to waltz in
perfect unison without the aid of clasp
ing hands.
Every set. If course. will have its
own particular fads this season as Well
as last There is. the Yale lead in
duguratcd by the tilce club of that col
lege. on its recent Western tour. In
this position the lady's right hand,
clasprd in the gcntleman'S left, IS
drawn up close to his shoulder. while
the lady's chin. in case it can reach 50
high. rests on the other shoulder. She
has the appearance of being dragged
across the floor Then there is the
gentleman dancer who delights in push
ing his partner the full length of the
room. as though she We're perambu
lator. and then pulling her back again.
And there is the couple who in their
athletic enthusiasm. make race OF the
two-stcp ana make pump handles Of
their arms in marking the time.
The new dances for the coming sea-
son will not be out until November.
and what they will be can hardly be
foretold. The method Of introducing
new dances Il IN interesting one.
Every summer after the dancing
schools throughout the country have
been closed. come the conventions OF
the various societies Of teachers or
Ndanring. The Western association met
this year at Buffalo: the American So
ciety in New York. These conventions
are held for the purpose of discussing
new dances. Any member VIII" has
worked out 4 new dance is given the
| floor. literally. ANA III the presence Of
others goes through the movements Of
! his own invention. The members of the
society watch. criticise and suggest i'm
: provementS. and in the end the con
| vrntion as whole either rejects the
dance or puts ii upon its approved list
of new dances. The convention lasts
several days. ana at the end the mem
! herS go back to their respective classes
/ full of new ideas for the coming SEA
! SON In I'll" course Of Il month or 50 the
committee detailed for this work sends
out a printed report Of the work Of
! the convention. containing list
of the approved new dances And
! these are taught in the academies of
which the heads are members of this
I association. Whether they become
z npnIIll1 ~. n,t lpnepJS Inp, what n "a