Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-08-26
FAMOUS BALLET DANCERS.
stories of La TnYIioni, Fanny Eisslcr
aud LoIn MOntcu. FN.

Stories of La TagIioni, Fanny EIssler
and LoIn Montcs. p.
1t has been asserted that the grand
ballet died when the famous Taglioni
retired IN 1916. At any rate, the ballet
today is chiefly spectacle of dress
aud colored limelight. Except for
very few performers, dancing as a
high art has vanished. ~
There is no one now to set beside
La Taglioni, who was the queen of the
otage. Balznc introduced her into his
novels. Even Thackeray condcscended
10 notice her ana declared entlhslus-
tically In "The Newcoines" that the
young men Of the day Will never soc
anything 50 graceful as TnglionI IN
La Sylphide.' At that time she was
the rage. Stagecoaches and great
coats were named after her.
La TaSlioni owed her charm to n
wonderful lightncss ana grace. Her
style wns rather ideal thnn realistic
ana roluptuous. rs WAS then The vogue.
The hidcous ballet skirt OF today she
never wore, but skirt that reached
nearly TO her ankles. 1t was one OF
the principles of her father who taught
her all she learned of the art. that the
dancer should be modest in dress, In
movement aud hi expression.
Another famous master, who called
himself lie Dicu tic In DunSe," always
told his pupils TO use ull the coquctry
they could
Ncstrs, who founded the famous
NestriS family, was m eighteenth cen
fury celebrity aud quite remarkably
conccltcd even for dancer "lhere
are but three great men alive" he used
to say, myself, the Prussiun Fred
erick and foltalre." at is interesting
to compare Southry's remark TINT IL
male dancer deserves to be ham
strung.) That profession OF which he
was so proud Is indeed IN nrtluous one.
Nestris used to practice for about six
hours II day. y dancer must be OK
trcmcly strung and supple.
a curious story Is told about Fanny
Elssler, Il German dancer with coal
black hnir, which illustrates the OK
trelne muscular strength Il dancer re-
luircs. She was crossing to America
when she entered her cabin one day
and discovered IL thief nbstractlng the
jewel case which she kept hidden UNI
der her pillow. Before lie could attack
her she planted her foot full In his
chest and killed him on the spot
II Is curious TINT no Englisliwomnn
has ever achieved supreme success M
II dancer. 1t Is possible. ns Foreigners
assert, that they lack the dramatic gift.
1t Is certain that IL lifelong devotion
ana arduous apprenticeship nre essen
tinl to any expression through the me-
dluln of dancing. The rats" the be-
glnncrs ut the Paris Opera, are arti-
cled for five years, and then, unless
they lave danced from their cradle,
they cannot hope to attain the first
rank.
Another quality essential to the great
dancer Is inilnlte patience. The only
English dancer who ever gave promise
OF attaining the front rank failed In
this respect. Lola Niontez was the
somewhat foreign name she had taken.
She lost her temper one dry with the
manager ut rehearsal nnd expressed
her feelings 30 dramatically MS to
break an umbrella over his lend. Nun.
ayers will endure much for nrt's sake
but this was too much.
Cnrlotta Grisl Is another famous
name of the old opera. 1t was she
who first introduced the polka into
England-a Bohemian dance that came
to stay. 1t was for her, too, that
Heine, Gautier and Adolphe Adam
collabornted IN writing "Giselle."
There were n score more famous
names that were familiar words In
those days. or the twelve leading
dancers engaged Mt the Kings theatcr
In 1924 for II two months scnson five
were sufficient attraction to receive
more than 81 600 each. London Mail.