The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-19
Dancing Masters Invent New Com
n Universal
TERRE HAUTE MANS DANCE
AN EFFORT WILL BE MADE To
KEEP 1T PROMINENT.
Prof. Brenneke Says America Leads
the World i'm D~ancfng-He Pre-
fers the Waits.

East, there was much controversy and ar
gument over the two-step, a dance which
has been very popular for the last nine
years, and which from all indications viii
find more favor in the future than I'm the
past among all classes of dancers in this
country. The dancing masters were almost
universal in the belief that the two-step
had taken away much of the grace that
had heretofore marked dancing. and in its
place given a rollicking. romping move
ment that had neither grace nor beauty
In its favor. The thing. however, that con-
fronted the masters Of this art. and which
was a stumbling block that they could not
get over. was that the dancing public likes
the two-step and will not give 1t up. They
all realized the position of the musician
who loves and admires the works OF Mo-
Fart and Beethoven. but is compelled TO
play ragtime because the public on whom
he depends demands the lighter and more
catchy airs of the modern compositions.
Formerly 1t took pupils two and three
years to become proficient dancers. While
at the present time one seasons lessons
will give them complete control Of their
movements and full knowledge of the
dances. Where formerly they were COM
PEELED to learn FIVE or six dances which
were dificult in every particular. now all
any one has to know Is the waltz. two-step
and lancers. With these three dances.
which are simple in all their
one is equipped to go on any ballroom floor.
Many, however. are content to know only
the two-step. without the other two. because
the majority of number on all programmes
are this dance. 81
AGAINST A STONE WALL
At the last five annual meetings OF the
dancing masters they nave not tried TO
curb public sentiment, but at the one re-
Gently held a dance was introduced by a
teacher of dancing at Terre Haute which
was universally adopted by those present.
Ii is thought by them hat In the course
of time IT will take the place of the two
step. 1t is claimed that there is no reason
why this new dance should not find favor
with the public, because the last half OF
it is similar to the two-step in every par
ticular. 1t now remains TO be seen how the
people who dance will take to IL during the
coming season. Everyone thinks that Ii
will be an exceedingly hard matter TO
overcome the favor of the two-step which
has 50 long been popular with all who fire.
quent bathrooms.
Prof. David b. Brenneke, a teacher OF
dancing in this city. when asked about the
Introduction of the new dance to do away
with the two-step. said:
MY interests here in the city were such
that it was impossible for me to attend
the national meeting OF dancing teachers.
but 1 have since their adjournment re-
ceived a full report OF all OF their proceed
ines. There will be a new dance intro
duced this season. a thing that has not
been attempted in a number Of years. The
last dances that were introduced since the
two-step has been in vogue found favor
among a few and were danced some for
three or four seasons, but died out. and
now nothing is ever heard of them. 1t is
going to be a hard matter. to introduce any
dance to take the place of the ever popu-
lar two-step, from the fact that IL is easy
to learn. the movements are quick and IL is
danced to catchy and popular music. 1t is
a dance that affords amusement TO all and
is considered by everyone as very enjoy
able. The two-step is not a da ice whose
popularity is combined to any one locality.
but is equally a favoritesS i'm all parts OF
the United States. The new dance Is
called the Coronation Gavotse." It f.
IndQc III VI SlOW LuONtlutnlo dliQ 10 ciiu-
ply a minuet In the introduction. The
two parts are divided as follows: The first
sixteen measures are regular minuet meas
ures. while the last sixteen are nothing
more than a two-step. 1t Is generally
thought that the dance win become popu-
lar because the last part OF IT is so similar
TO the old favorite. while the first part will
give something new to dancing. which It
is thought will excite interest. Every
thing. of course. with a new dance depends
upon how the public will receive Il. II
doesn't matter what we who teach dancing
decide upon or how hard we try TO intro
duce new movements. IL the people who
dance do not think favorably OF our de-
cision. why our ideas will not be carried
out. Dancing is similar to everything else
that the public does. no matter how IL In
dictated TO it generally does as IL sees at.
ORIGIN OF TwO-sTEP.
1.-THE two-step was originated some nine
years ago at the Eastern summer resorts
where most OF the dances become popular.
At the large hotels Of Saratoga and all
OF the other large resorts they have mas
tiers OF ceremonies who conduct and plan
all of the amusements that take place In
the. bathrooms for the entertainment OF
the guests. These master OF ceremonies
are generally some w~ell-known dancing
teachers. and IL Is through them that many
of the popular dances originate. AT these
places the movements hat are introduced
are generally simple. because people who
know how TO dance do not want to take
the trouble TO learn anything very din
cult and those who do not know want
something that can be learned as easily
and with as little time as possible. OF
course the two-step Is not liked by many
teachers from the fact that IL loses them
pupils. and then IL Is so simple hat it
is learned much quicker and with less
trouble than the dances that were popular
some ten or fifteen years ago. There are
very few people at the present time who
do not know how to go through the move
ments OF the two-step. 1 have any number
OF people who come 20 me 10 be taught.
and when i ask them II they know any
thing about dancing they answer that they
know the two-step. Many people are con-
tent with knowing this one dance and will
never take the trouble 10 learn the waits
or lancers. They think that u they know