The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-07

and informal, which have taken
place during the season is without prece-
dent. Not only young people have danced.
either; there have been dances for children.
dances for young married people; and while
no dances have been announced for the
older married people, they have been very
much in evidence on the floor at all the
parties not exclusively for the younger set.
Il have stopped being surprised at the
number of elderly women who come TO me
for private lessons" says one dancing
teacher. And really they themselves have
ceased TO apologize for the fact of their
coming. The utmost explanation that any
staid matron now makes for asking my
assistance in waltzing or two-stepping, is
that she is going to chaperon a college
party somewhere or another and she doesn't
want her boys TO feel that mother is back
number, and uses obsolete forms in dancing
when she steps out on the floor. But most
OF those that come TO me come because
they wish to come and they offer no more
explanation than the younger women
Connoiseurs in dancing say that there is
considerable difference between the familiar
dances as they are danced here and as
they are danced in the East. Most Indian
apolis dancers seek smoothness rather than
any other quality In their dancing but
the Eastern methods of dancing put more
spring and leap into the movements. "A
good dancer is a good dancer whatever
method he learns uses, asserts one
teacher, however land as a good dancer
must also be an adaptable dancer, there
is no difficulty in fitting ones step to ones
partner"
But despite the popularity of what Dick
Swiveller calls the light fantastic, the
society women OF the city have as yet paid
little attention to that form of the dance
which is so much the fad among society
women of the big Eastern cities-that of
fancy dancing. The study of the graceful
dances, indeed, is worthy of some name
other than fad. for it is the surest method
Of developing grace and poise-qualities de-
sired by every woman who has the inevita-
bic hankering after beauty-and OF develop
Ing the body evenly and symmetrically.
The more violent exercises of the gym
nasium which the up-to-date girls have
been taking for a good many years give
strength and poise but not necessarily
grace; indeed, they frequently tend toward
a stiffness of motion. The study of the
aesthetic dances on the contrary gives
strength only in a moderate degree, but
insures grace and certainty of movement
and the two latter qualities are really more
10 swing big Indian clubs or to lift heavy
weights.
Those women who study aesthetic dancing
seriously always have some gymnastic work
Of the lighter sort in connection with il:
and on the reverse side many gymnasium
teachers take a course of aesthetic dancing
which insures them freedom of movement
which the straight gymnasium exercises
do not give.
The society women who enter the classes
simply for the pleasure OF dancing and do
not take up the study in serious way
however have nothing Of the heavier
work In connection with the graceful move
ments of the arms and body and the agile
steps. Studied even I'm this way the dane
ing gives grace OF carriage which is very
well worth while. The graceful swaying
movements Of the body and arms give
grace and suppleness to the figure. and the |
pretty and often intricate steps bring
sureness to every movement. Ballet steps, |
castanet dances, fancy dances of various |
kinds are given 10 the class In concert, and |
in all the steps the "point-the-toe," which |
Is the shibboleth Of most physical directors, |
is strenuously insisted upon. Insensibly the |
benefit of this toe movement extends to
the walking as well as the dancing step OF |
the women students. with great benefit to |
their carriage. The arching of the instep, |
movements that, like all the other essen
tial points of the dances, goes TO make up |
a litheness and freedom of movement which |
is soon apparent In all motion.
''Why do the society women study these |
elaborate and difficult dances?' somebody |
asked one pretty girl who known to |
be charming dancer herself. They never |
permit anybody TO see them dance; If they |
wish to entertain their friends with pretty |
dances they hire a professional dancer; |
why, then, do they bother to acquire a |
knowledge that benefits no one and gives |
no one pleasures"
The girl shrugged her shoulders ''It ben
efits every woman who tries il in material |
way" she answered. land as for the pleas |