New-York tribune., 1902-01-26
STORY OF FLYING BALLET.
HOW AERIAL DANCERS FLY TO MAKE
MERRY HOLIDAY.

Wstle scientists struggle with the flying machine
New-York has a theatrical show which tends
TO confirm the prediction that mortals may yet
be winged without putting on immortality d.
rect from Drury Lane. the London home OF the
Legitimate drama Of Clrstmas-the pantomime''-
come the Grtgolats. with their flying ballet. These
winged dancers are no less interesting behind the
scenes than before. The flying ballet is the
invention Of Herr Zschregner. director Of the Apollo
Theatre Of Berlin. 1t takes its name from his
wife Nine. Grigolatis premier of the first bevy of
ayirg dancers that the director trained. They
originally designed for the Worlds Fair. The Chi
cago manager who engaged them becoming in
solvent before the fair opened, Herr ZschTegner
took the flying birds TO Paris. whence they went
20 London.
Save for the premiere, English girl. they are
al German. To America they under the
OF the directors assistant Herr Schultz and his
wife When the Grigolatis descend from the aerial
dressing room into the flies they pink silk
tights Decollete the black feather bodces. with
fronts of white chiffon ruffies. fluffy and downy
the breast Of bird Long black suede gloves
the arms. To short, blond wigs are fastened with
Jewels. black feather capotes On each shoulder Is
hooked huge black feather wing. and from waist
line to the floor spreads a swallows tail, the whole
Of veritable feather black the traditional
Each carries huge. white. fluffy muff. Fearful of
rufiing their plumage, they descend the
staircase that leads from their dressing to the
stage backward, looking for all the world like
row Of black crows suspended a line.
The downy cOrsage conceals a Greek corset OF
wood and iron which incases the entire trunk OF
the body. AT the top OF the back is iron hook
In the flies either side of the stage, three
abreast, they stand. while attendant fastens to
each corset hook invisible wire suspended from
the dies This wire in turn is fastened TO a
strong rope manipulated by a lusty German
whose movements, if her life largely in his
keeping u takes from one 10 three men for each
dancer. At Herr Schultz's sigma! the premiere
The remandeT Of the bevy By Touching button 9y a
the waist. the dancer OptaCh the invisible wire
At the Drury Lane. where the stage is less crowded
dependent of the director The grace of Their move
Gi5 - IL Gioi me ~ men en- al me ropes
ing and lowering the wires, the dancer might come
@en guided Solely by the Of touch 6eS S
TO the dancer what the accompanist is 10 the
I couid not find men in America 10 do such
the German blood They know the Importance of
perfect obedience Besides they have intuitive feel
Ing for rhy TIM With geometrical precision every
spot which the flying dancers aeht on the
the premiere makes in her aerial flights. With The
precision OF a pendulum her ballet shoe touches
flyers from earth offer TO her. the touch that
ban Nights beauty Describing their swallow
plumage, and disguised as witches. the dancers
ride brooms in nifaiT' lending uncanny realism 10
the working out Of the old fairy tale. Alas TO fly
flying ballet pays to make holiday for the specJa-
5Lrecses an hour four times - reaL7 VTitbo1,t ~
Incentive Of light, music or applause. the dis
manted stage, in gymnasium costume Herr
Schultz and his crew the ropes put them
through OLD and new evolutOnS terra firma and
on high. Witness jhe morning rehearsal, with
palms-the palms which night float so effec-
lively over the Ballet Of the Seasonsi German
and Italian ballet dancing differs from that of the
Anglo Saxon. II is confined largely to slow move
ment and graceful posing, and IS free from the
skip and high kicking that characterize the Eng
lsh and American schools. At the directors call
the first American recruit, petite girl of fifteen
the stage An attendant hooks her corset TO an in
visible wire.
Position Heels together! Toes out! Arms at
sider
the hands meet above the head. Twice the move
rnent is repeated, then, with forward bend knees
and chest the signal Is given. Slowly she is lifted
into midair, bending, she flies. the legs backward
she descends 10 alight like bird. The secret of
suspension and aerial evolution lies IN finding the
body's centre Of gravity. My breath! I lose my
breathW gaSpS the understudy.
You'll soon learn 10 control it." says Herr
Schultz, and the champion flying dancers nod as
sent.
Il feel as II were in a wise. The corset shuts
You'll soon get used TO IT." And the men at the
ropes give the little understudy a sympa thetc smile
II takes the average trained ballet dancer three
months persistent study TO acquire the and
assurance Of Grigolatis.
Again into midair scars the embryo bird growing
more and more sure OF herself
"Goodi Very goOdr' cries Herr Schultz. This
quick. There's nothing they cannot do-do
once"
The Grigolatis unlike other ballet dancers, are
Of their salaries the entire year, engagement
hired by year. and their compensation is scarce
ly less than that of the premiere.
"Ah." sghs Herr Schultz. MY most beautiful