New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-09-09
SERIOUS DANCERS.
They Deplore Present Departure
from old Methods.

Most persons inclined 20 rank dancing among
the light and frivolous things OF life. but not so
do the men and women OF the American Soceu
of Professors Of Dancing which held convention
at the Hotel Majestic last week Anything more
serious and single hearted than the earnestness
with which the assembled members discussed the
waltz and the quadrille abused the two-step. and
glded up and down the floor demonstrating their
individual theories and their inventions In the way
Of steps would be hard find at any con-
vention OF whatever nature from New Hampshire
10 New Mexico. There was a slight haze or sad
resting upon the sessions. for most OF the
members feeling grieved over what Oskar
Duenweg. OF Terre Haute. Ind. the societys d.
rector OF dances. termed the diseases that afiict
modern dancing Most of the members said
valiantly like Mr.. Turveydrop. I've strive 20 poll
ish-pOlsh-polish." but they seemed TO feel II
rather discouraging task, though some professed
hope for the days TO come
81 went 20 Coney Island and watched the dancing
IN the paviliOns.' said Henry DOring. OF Troy.
y. Y. Among all the couples saw just one pair
who really danced. The others rompsd, they
Jumped. they Slid they fell their own feett'
lie shook his head And It's not much better IN
more fashionable gatherings A few teachers
striving TO uphold their art can't control the crowd
OF modern dancers. any more than the good teach
ers Of music control the singers. They control
the real singers. OF course. but not the woud-be
singers; and it's so with us
People Will return to the good old ways" said
Mr.. Duenweg. optimisticaly. They are beginning
70 ask for the square dances again. The graceful
hop waltz Is coming into vogue. too"
Yes put what kind Of hop waltz?' nlourned
tall and serious-eyed professor The true hop
waltz includes graceful little leap Ike that OF the
agile gazelle. but most dancers nowadays take it
as II they were trying TO jump hve-barred
gate"
One Of the picturesque figures Of the convention
was David II. Bowen. Of Ogdensburg. n. Y
Dean Bowen many Of the dancing teachers call
him. because he has been instructing pupils in
the art since before the middle Of the Last
tury. Many who children learned the minuet
and the redowa from him grandparents now.
or living IN their graves. fun of years; but ID.
H Bowen, Professor Of Dancing" is still IN the
field He is optomstic about the future Of dancing.
though he SAYS severe things about It's present de
II the art of dancing means not only dancing but
walking. perfect mental poise, and a sound and
flexible body His own body is a good argument
See there" he said to The Tribune reporter.
and twinkne them in all directions with bewilder-
ing rdpldity. How many old gentlemen OF seventy
armand he pushed back his cuff and showed an
arm as firm and unwrinkled as youths. and
back is as smooth as an infants. NY teeth"- lie
disclosed two fine rows Of them in his amiab'e
smile. "A lady asked me not long ago." he pur-
sued - Professor she said, do you mind telling
answered. I Imported them An she said 7
import thenltfronl EnsIand when importsd m ISu
self They've been in my head since they grew
Have you kept them sound by dancing profess
That would seem far fetched" he chuckled
NV & d9 s Is fa Iee 5eP5 my S BODY sound
teach my pupils 10 keep every part of the body I'm
perfect condition. every muscle supple. There was
in a carriage. she was said to be dying from con-,
sumption i but she wanted 70 learn dancing She
would practice a little while. and then lie down:
After some months she left Ogdensburg Several
Won kp6v n s Sbs sad pom MA n b Don P
advantage N Sha Gafd Pm N-orYr
poor sick pupil OF three years ago / kept on with
the mother Of TWO Strong. hSI.hy o BABIES "
49,, As 70 present t1uits IN daIe,ng 9ne NE
know how 70 walk much less aance They walk
Eov tbir nsrS, eng ,a J 5a ~ ms, ,ns
dont know When yOu walk backward, the
the han OF the foot is the 20 toucn the cround
and the last 10 leave IT, 50 4 should be In walking
an exercise Ike this'-and the professor stood |
an Imaginary Iiue f5onl his head % his heels
And the leng.h Of the step shoud ne the length |
with steps half a yard lorg under Il,s m5,Iern I'M
preston that the stride the thing. is frighful-
"A woman came to me for her FIRST lesson IN
who knows me. I've Just begun dancing lessons
WIN, WIN LII $50. ~ sH 'oIu MIN men
ing how to walk The true teacher Of dancing |
he led insensbIv into daqcing-sO.'' ana the Ola |
professor. holding an imaginary partner. slipped |
into the glide II the waltz and circed around two
or three chairs and tables. You must me"
he aPolog1zed. with mis- beau Brummel manner. 4
for demonstrating IN this way. hut L am so ac-
customed To 10 I'm my classes.
what come Of the changes there have been I
In dancing m the sixty years you've taught?'' Mr.
''Ah, All those dances Of my carly time are
obsolete now-or many of them: the polka ma |
zOUrka. the TedOwa. the menuet de Ia COur which |
danced At the court Of Louis XIV. I think The /
square dances. which have been so long neglected
10 be a quadrille two in the course % an even
Ing. because they afford such good opportunity |
for little quet Irritation No. the old teacher |
said eInphattcally in answer 10 suggestion the
waltz Is not the best for hrtatiOns.
''Ah. the waltz, danced il should be- Il has |
always been the same always beautiful: bur there
are sad distortions OF il nowadays One change for
the better made about 1860 when somebody |
over here in America introduced the reverse. Be
throughout the dance. and I've seen most dIenTed |
dancers grow light headed and topple right over
lessor proved II oy Waiting without a reverse |
down the long parlor and back again. But the |
reverse Is n good thing. All other changes and /
variations OF the waltz. such as this two sfeD |
a bnOrmality that's beer grated on H. are bad |
What is the tN1-step? \ series Of slides ANY one
can dance g.; any one teach it-that's why It's |
fessOrs benign face ClOuded. II say to the ladies'
my pupils. do not hop. IL Is not IsdyllEe 10 hsp
You see" he added cOnfdentially where does |
that little hop gracefully. twenty-one make YOU |
think OF draw horse.
childhood the professor on. nOdding his ]
head gently What is pretter than a kinder
garten class In dancing I've a class OF twenty !
one babies. aged from three years up 20 hVe Taey 1
sometimes do things not the programme-ine /
day they all started turning somersauts. AMI for 4
"a few minutes / had the finest acruDuts YOU ever Il
saw But they are learning 20 dance they are be- i
ing fitted for society See "A young girl who has i
never been taught enter a room where people /
what 20 do with her feet her hands NOshing 50 /
harmonzes the nerves 90 "A growing SRI inclined /
Girl fourteen cured OF irrtabIlity by en-
ereises, the gentle musical movements The dane