Waterbury Democrat., 1901-06-11
DANCING MASTERS TALK.
Plugging on the Ballroom Floor
 Should be Tabooed.

i The Normal School, Masters of Dane ing, a national association that includes the best known and most capable ballet masters and dancing teachers In the country, is holding its annual conven- tion at Buffalo, N. Y. Over one hun dred delegates are present, many of them women, and they come from all quarters of the country, even the Paci- nc coast states being represented. The purpose of the convention Is not social pleasure, but hard work. New dances are introduced to the profession and elaborations of old ones shown. In the short business sessions questions of interest to the profession are discuss | ed.
 Just now the chief question that agi- tates the dancing masters is how to end the propensity to hug on the ballroom I floor. The problem is a sumner. The dancing masters contend that the su- preme object in dancing is grace and they claim that hugging grip on a fair partners waist is but little less l artistic than half nelson on her neck. At times hugging may be artistic, yet even ideal, but not by any means on a ballroom floor. But it is fad, say the masters, and they must allow it or lose the1r students. The only remedy would seem 10 De education. F. Leslie Clen- denen or Davenport, Ia, president of the association, in his annual address yesterday inveighed against the inar- tistic fads that irresponsible teachers introduce and which spread like wild +T,.a and poetry of the dance.
 This hugging hold,' said MT Leslie.
 can be defended on no ground. It's not artistic and it's decidedly not prop CT. In some parts of the country, and l am not speaking of resorts akin to the BoWery dance halls where spielers congregate, this fad has reached alarm ing proportions.
 1n some sections it is considered quite proper for the man to place both arms around the woman's waist and JOCK his fingers while she places both her arms around his neck and rests her nead upon his shoulder. I have seen respectable persons place handker- chleIs between their cheeks to prevent the mixture of perspiration. Is that dancing? Where is any poetry of mo- ton III that sort of thing?
 There are less objectionabIe fads such as holding the left arm like a pump handle, that are as much an of lense against art. The fact that such Iads are affected by ultra-select people. IS no defense. Grace is grace in danc- Ing, no matter who is dancing, and per- maps more natural grace is found among simple peasants than anywhere else. We should strive to stamp ont such fads. If people wish to be affect ca they will be, but we should do all in our power to teach that simple grace ana ease of motion that is the life of dancing.'' -'''1 V -
 Yesterday afternoon MT Clendenan was teaching large number of the del egates the principles of dance he has eIaporated from the Mexican dance El pa Jara. The broad waxed floor of tba dancing hall was covered with the dan- cers. The men appeared In shirt waists many of them modified, and the wo-. men in light summer clothes. They were banking on our weather nerhans not unwisely. The piano tinSled ont the music and the swish of skirts and tapping toes kept time. Many of the fandango movemens were in the dance. and 1t was a vivid illustration of the work that must be done by a dancer be- Tore the public appearance. It is harder work than laying bricks.
 On Friday evening the annual racan- ton will be held. At that time will ha produced coti1lon prepared bv Mr Clendenen entitled "A Day. at tbe por American" The figures in tbis oar. man are all new.
 me convention will end on Saturday To-day the new ballroom dances. ar rather, elaboratfons of old dances vii be shown. What receives rhe annroval or the association will be taught a1l- ~ CT the country. The consensus of onin. lon or the dancing masters seems to ha tnaI there IS marked revival In this country of interest in the old dances. HoWever, the most popular dance the coming season will be the three-sten which is said to be rapidly driving the uD1qu1tous two-step out of favor. Tba interest in the old dances is welcomed by the teachers, as they believe if re- suits from distaste at the ungraceful- ness of the later dances. Of course tha waltz will never be out of fashion
 Professor H. H. Norman of Montraa1 gave a vivid illustration to tho da1a- gates of the grace and beauty of tha DOW ana courtesy as practiced in Can ada. MT Norman is dancing master to the governor generals court and if is hls duty to instruct such of our North ern nelghbors as wish to make "a mark 1n the court, how to scrape and bow and cut pigeon wing. Of course. the pigeon wing is incidental, but the bow and courtesy, Ir Norman says are ne cessities.
 MT Norman was assisted by B. F. Ford of Joliet, III. and c. A. Bailey of Waterbury, Ct It was a very pretty sight, the long lines of men and wo. men in shirt waists with and without suspenders, lowing and bending in time to music. A proper bow or court esy Is mighty serious thing and must not be attempted to the utmost until the muscles have been trained. Some can never learn 1t properly, as some can never learn to throw cartwheel. but little training accomplishes won 1<xp ESras t r<