The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-06-02
THE ETHICS OF DANCING.
New York Church Mission Has Es-
tablished "A Dancing Class.
New York Tribune.

New York Tribune.
A happier crowd it would be hard TO find
than the dancing class just formed OF boy
and girls in the neghborhood of West
Forty-seventh street. 1t is in charge OF
Miss Mildred Britton Fairfield, and meets
every Tuesday evening in Arios Hall, III
West Forty-seventh street. The class Is one
ct the features of the work of the Chapel
of the Divine Providence, in West Forty
fourth street a mission of the Church or
the New Jerusalem (Swedenborg), IN East
Thirty-fifth street. 1t is under the direc-
ton of the WOmen's Council of that church,
and grew out of desire of its members
tc aid in the present crusade against vice.
Healthful amusements, said a member OF
the society yesterday, are requisite 10
youthful morality. The American girl is full
OF Vivacity and must have her fun, and It
is through this natural desire that ner
tempta tionS arise.
Certain missions as well as settlements
have long appreciated that dancing is one
or the most important factors among
youthful recreations. and certain evenings
are set apart in many such institutions Tor
this pleasure The step taken by the New
Church. however, in renting a hall anu
giving regular instruction is said to be the
first effort of the kind made by church.
Miss Fairfield, teacher of the class, who
has had experience in various lines OF So
Geological work, believes that dancing is
an important means of ethical development
1t leads the children TO discover the mu-
tual relationship to and dependence upon
one another necessary TO that enjoyment
for through dancing one must recognize the
physical obedience to law-the law of time,
rhythm and form.
Into the teaching l put the best L know
OF pedagogics and the like" she said TO a
Tribune reporter yesterday, land my pupils
learn not only to dance. but to catch the
spirit underlying the work / do not mean
to say that all will become unselfish on
the spot and remain so for all time; but
they cannot help getting an idea of con-
sideration for others, which will be carried
into their home life. / consider the ethically
conducted dancing class one of the greatest
preventives of the dance hall and it's en-
tailed evils that be brought into the
way of boys and girls Most of the young
girls in the tenement districts work in
shops from o'clock in the morning until 6
o'clock at night Shirtwaist and millinery
classes are well enough. but they are not
restful nor recreative. What these workers
want is amusement. and they will have il.
That element in human nature which caused
Bacon TO say, The mixture of lie doth
ever add pleasure cannot be disregarded.
The thing which is right in itself and has
only come to be considered bad because it
has been surrounded by evil should be
lifted out of the evil surroundings and be
made and kept sweet and wholesome ana
within easy access of all.
"One of my former pupils once said to me-
The dancing class not only keeps the girls
out of the dance halls. but it keeps the
young men out, too. Do you suppose that
il the settlement had not offered me all
the dancing | wanted | wouldn't have gone
where | could get t?' p"
The common rules of etiquette the cour-
teSy que woman Dy a man ana vice versa,
good form in greeting the hostess upon en-
tering and leaving the room, in giving and
receiving introductions, i'm choosing part
ners for the dance, and general courtesy
and kindly feeling toward all, are part Of
the instruction given with every lesson.
Only young men and women known to the
teacher. the church workers or pupils OF
the class are admitted to the hall. A
charge of 10 cents is made to each member
for every lesson. The standard dignfied
dances. including the waltz. are taught
and effort is made to substitute fer
koydenish tendencies grace and dignity.