Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1903-04-11
The Original Waltz.

FRosTBI'RG, Mp, April Z, 1903.
To the MINING JOURNAL.
The article which was reprinted i'll
last weeks JOURNAL concerning the
"original' waltz and which was taken
from the official organ of the ASSoci-
aticn of Masters of Dancing of the
United States and Canada. created a
great amount of interest among the
many young ladies and gentlemen of
Frostburg and vicinity who dance the
waltz.
1t may be added-this is proof that
the young people read the paper which
has reputation of being great"
Having been asked great many
questions concerning the ''originar
waltz, as referred to in last week S
| JOURNAL and finding the interest gen.
eral among the dancers, and being the
| only member and representative of the
Dancing Masters Association in this
| section, and at the same time supervi-
| sor for the State of Maryland for the
largest and strongest Association of
that kind i'll the world, feel it is my
duty to extend or spread as much as
practicable rightful knowledge re-
yarding the waltz in order that those
who desire to do so may keep abreast
Of the times, insofar as knowledge of
universal dancing is concerned.
1t is admitted by all dancers that the
waltz is pre- eminent for grace and
beauty over all other forms of dancing,
and for this reason there is a very great
necessity of knowing as much as DOS
sible concerning this dance.
am aware that there are those who
are opposed to this particular form of
dancing, but when dance of this class
is executed with proper step, and in a
corrrcf dnd wfncd position, it is just as
modest AS it is charming. If some
young people are coarse enough to
practice this or any other dance with
out proper sense of decency or refine
ment, and if some young women are
careless about showing that they are
ladies, it is their fault, and one that ought
not to be blamed OH the dance. However,
these indecOrous positions are never
seen nor permitted i'll properly-cOn-
Quoted dancing school.
The present waltz step, or what has
been generally danced for the waltz in
the greater part of the United States
for a number of years, strictly sp@0kiDy,
is not the "original' glide-waltz move
ment, and while the current style of
dancing the waltz is ii gliding move
ment, yet it differs very greatly from
the "original'' or "old-time" waltz in
the manner in which the feet are placed
while executing the "step." This diff
ference | will describe later in this
letter.
TIE ORIGINAL WALTZ.
1t will not be necessary to enter into
the history of the waltz except to say it is
by far the oldest dance recorded, and in
Il simpler style was danced as early as
4. ID. $50
There Is sometimes il great deal of
discussion concerning the country in
which the waltz originated and as this
is of no interest to those for whom this
letter is intended will only refer to it
briefly:
During the 18th century this dance
was practiced by society under the
name of "carole," and little later
under name of "basse- dance," in which
the kings and dignitaries did not refuse
to join.
About that time in Italy it was sepa-
rated from the other dances under the
name of "Romanesca," and from there
it passed to France and to southern
Germany.
In France it developed into the
"Gaillard and Volte," while the Ger
mans, more dreamy and slow i'll their
dance movements, changed the Italian
"Romanesca" into the "Allamand and
Waltz"
The Wolfe" of the French went into