New-York tribune., 1903-02-15
DANCING FOR EXERCISE.
Introduced at the Yale Gymnasium
for Physical Training.

New-Haven. Conn. Feb. Il fSpeciaD.-The odd
spectacle OF more than forty Yale undergradua tes
jigging up and down the cheerful notes of a
piano manipulated by of their number is
weekly sight in the Yale gymnasium Dr.
Anderson, director of the gymnasium, Is Gloss
student of old and new methods of training the
Body, and for some time. he said to-day. he has
been considering the advisability Of introducing
dancing exercises in gym" work to aid men in
auiring ease and grace of bodily movement Il be-
ieve." said DR. Andersen to-day. In talking about
the novel experiment. that there is form OF
physical exercise that will give quicker results in
grace OF movement and control of muscles than
dancing. Dancers are always graceful. stage dane
ers particularly. though they may not perhaps be
muscular In what trying to do at Yale
believe lies future for physical education. We
are starting in slowly with simple movements,
taking up the Jig and leaping dance first Later
we expect TO try some more advanced dances.
These. OF course. will not aim to give spe
cial advantages walter. but rather they viii
help the student TO learn how make a good ap-
pearance q stage. should he be public speaker.
and to carry himself well generally
The enthusiasm with which the at
the gymnasium has been received by the under
graduates entirely unlocked for A class OF
from thirty TO forty freshmen meets every
Thursday evening while q class of upper class men
and graduate students has been formed for n
other evening. More classes will be formed later.
and dancing made a regular part Of the physical
development o. many Yale students 1t will not,
q
thus far made il the more popular.
1t is a curious fact said Dr. Anderson yester-
day. but hardly any men are naturally graceful IN
dancing" a glance in at one OF the dancing class
meets would prove this once. Laughable things
occur with men who try the simple dances pre-
scribed in the course for the first time. 1t seems
simple enough to stand easily and Jig up and
down. or lea. forward on one foot with the arms
extended, ir the 'leaping dance" but few men
DO 1t naturally OF without practice. A row of men
will take Uhen p
will lose his balance. fall up against another man
and the whole lose its balance. like set up OF
ten pins Some Of the newcomers in this branch
Of exercise come prepared to exert all of their
muscular tn in the simple hops or leaps,
and in spite Of the frantic efforts Of the in
structors Will make their legs rigid. hold their
arms If made of wood. or, asked to assume
graceful posture will rigidly extend their fingers
at wide angles throw their bodies into the most
tiresome Of posit-cns. a exercise OF this kind
fer some is most unconsciously amusing
spectacle InSread Of taking easy and graceful at
titudes the nenphytes will turn themselves into
figures resembling wooden Indians
The first necessity therefore, in taking such a
class is to tr- TO make the freshmen relax their
muscles. This is harder to do than would at nrsI
be imagined possible Conservation of energy is
one Of the first requisites TO ease of carriage Dr.
Anderson says in speaking Of this natural ten
dency Of NOS. Of the men who are learning grace
Of movement 1t is most difficult to teach the
men this Rn-n they have learned it, however IL
Just WHY we are starting this novel method of
teaching physical ease at Yale. DR.. Anderson con.
tinued, is perhaps not at once answered by most
people There is the aesthetic reason II teacnes -
ease and grace control of muscles easy move,
Tnents and approaches that conservation OF
energy that is really the basis OF grace
T2hvsioIoeicaIly il develops the heart ana lungs,
just we set man to leaping and ngnt rna
classes Anatomfcally it develops the machinery OF
TIE BODY gives spring the fnstep. gives pllaplltE
TO the knee ankle and hip joints, and increases
the muscular development of the thlgh. mp anu
calf of the leg Then il has utilItar1an result;
as il gives a man ease of carriage IN society; anu
allows him 10 appear in public win the gooo car
r-age that IS so necessary public speakers
Just now we starting in with TWO oahces;;
the iig or steUdanCe give polse pal4lce anu
freedom in shifting the weight, and the r1sh nt or
leaning dance. which brings in more BODY Wo[h
and gives more advanced work in balance, lre
hovs iurnp two or three feet in these leaps Later
ON We shall put on the clog and soft shoe oances,
snd then the buck and wing varieties, the acrooaTc
dances head and hand springs and shoulder rolls
BIIf We have not planned specifically for these as
vet This year viii De given up eilufeIE u 1He Hi''
TWO dances mentioned -.-. .-.-
Tlr Anderson has been studying oanclne eAer-
cses for some years. He took up ballet work WIN
T3ibhran the New York dancing master, Souprette
and stem work with Eddie Collier, and clog
dances with Began on the Bowery- Already nulnef-
Gus applications for places as teachers nave c9Ins
in from an sorts of people, and great interest mas
i,een shown by other university athletic OHeclors