The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-19
new FEATURES In DANCING
Adopted by the Convention Recent
~ Held in Toronto.

BALTIMORE. June IS--James W Ban
CERT of this city, who was unanimously
reelected president Of the American Ma
I uonaI Association of Masters Of Dancing
at the eighteenth annual convention of
that organization. held in Toronto last
week, has returned. and is enthusiastic
over the results Of the session. The
dancing masters decided to adopt several
new features which viii interest those
who are or wish to be proficient in the
/ terpsichorean art
In discussing the results of the conven-
! ton, Mr. Bangert said: The meeting
was full rof magnificent ideas, and we
adopted a number Of new figures. What
. might be called the keynote of the meet
ing was a determination to bring the Ian
GERS and the cotiIIon before the public
o more prominently during the coming win
, ter. The New York and Saratoga Iancers
viii receive especial attention, because we
/ think it is a pity that that form of dane
ing has declined in favor in recent years
Three new round dances were accept
ed They are the Ontario by h l.
Braun of Pittsburg; the 'SyIph, by Isa-
| dGre Sampson, of Lynn, Mass, and the
Rainier by r. Z. Collins, of Seattle,
Wash Besides these we also accepted a
number of new figures in the square
dances
We expect to make these three dances
popular, for we think they possess eIe-
ments which viii make them attractive to
the public Baltimore has never been
much on anything except the regular
styles Of dancing-the waltz, two-step,
lancers, ShOttische. etc, but new round
dances are much used in the North, es-
pecialIy in the New England States. where
something novel is tried not only in the
! dancing schools, but by the general pub
lie Such has never been the case here,
but we are going to try TO bring about
a reform in the conditions and see what
can be done in the way of introducing a
greater variety At least one Of the new
dances, the Ontario, IS quite simple and
has features which should make it a go
1t is in two-four time and the directions
are:
First part-Open position Polka
redwa forward, left foot count 1, 2; pol
ka redwa forward, right foot, count 3, 4
Repeat above step. separating from part
ner, turning inward, making one complete
turn, counting l, ., 3. 4 in all four meas
ures.
Part two-Glide polka, four measures.
LAS you see, this dance is simple and
neat, gives plenty Of opportunity for the
display of grace adapts steps already IA
rniIiar and is easily learned shall teach
it to my classes, and 1t will be taught by
great many other masters The -Onta-
rio is the one Of the three likely to make
the most impression on the general run
Of people. because of the features have
pointed out, while the others are more on
the order of fancy dances
Second in simplicity is the 'Syiph.' 1t
is longer than the Ontario. and embraces
more steps, which is apt to interfere with
its popularity Still. I like the 'Sylpb, for
it is not as complicated as it would ap-
pear from the description, and allows the
performer to show all the grace he or she
may possess. I CINE that il viii be
come a favorite with chiIdren's classes.
for they can learn it easily and at the
same time know that they are testing
their abilities on a dance that is a little
out of the ordinary run Following IS the
description OF the 'Sylph':
open position, facing the line of direc-
ton. Point left foot TO fourth position,
count / point left foot to second position,
count 2; point left foot to fourth position,
rear, count 3 Pivot on right foot to com
! pIete a turn to left, count l. Polka for
| ward measures Repeat the above four
| measures.
Part Two-GHde or cross step polka
/ eight measures
/ Rather neat. isn't it Here We have the
/ pretty polka steps with new applications,
/ and they viii not be difficult to acquire
/ even for those who are not especially Civ
/ en- to footwork-
/ Third and last Of the new dances ac-
| cepted is the Rainier I do not suppose
/ that it will ever become a great rage with
/ the ma jority of the people, for it requires
| some effort to learn and is more involved
/ than IS usually deStrabi when couple
/ desire TO take a short turn around the
| floor. But with children I imagine the
J Rainier viii be successful. IS it furnishes
! d dance requiring study and one which,
! when learned win be attractive for cX-
| hibition purposes 1t is IN three parts
| here are the directions, which will be
/ easily understood not 5nfy by dancing
masters but by others who have been well
| instructed il the terpsichoIean art
/ Part One-Open position Five running
| steps forward. Extend right foot to fourth
position front, raised; hopping on left
! count l. ,, >, T. three running steps back
ward face partner on count 3, hop on
! right, left to fourth position, front, raised,
! count + Eight measures
! Part Two-OpeT5 position, holding both
hands Leftifoot to second position; right
to fourth fTelt- hopping on left count /,
>; repeat with right, count ), f. repeat with
left. count 1. 2: repeat with right, count ;,
| + Eight measures
| sition front, count /; right to fourth
| count 2; polka step, making. on
half turn. count 3. /; right to fourth. back;
J left to fourth, back; polka. turn half way,
count I. , g. +
THE Iady's IS 4 counterpart Of the gen
tlenan's, she starting with the right foot.
You must understand that these were
not all the new dances that were laid be-
fore the convention but they were all
that were accepted. for our constitution
provides that we shall officially adopt but
three each year There were q number OF
others, some OF them of vast merit, in
both simple and complex figures, but
these were chosen as the best and most
artistic after careful discussion
Besides the official adoption OF round
dances various suggestions were made OF
new figures in the square dances These
We do not officially adopt. but they are
carefully noted and viii be used by many
of us This is especially true of the Ian
GERS. which we expect TO improve quite a
good deal
Attention viii be paid this winter "a
| the New York IancerS which has never
had the hold in Baltimore its merits
! would warrant There has been entirely
( too much tendency to romp through the
lancers among Baltimore people, and for
| that reason it has been cut out of the
lists at many affairs where it should have
held a prominent place Our object vii
be to bring about greater degree OF
| dignity and thereby restore the lanceTs tC
. its old position"
The next convention of the association
will be held in Milwaukee
Tine Hampton Soldiers Home.
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. June I9-MajoI