New-York tribune., 1909-07-11
OPEN AIR DANCES
Graceful amateurs Who Take Part
in Charity KermeSses.

In the name Of charity many entertainments are
given by amateur talent this summer In the social
set of every city girls and young women, ana
even middle aged women. who dance exquisitely
and have had the advantage of training by the
best ballet masters, both here and abroad. CIR
cumstances alone may have kept them from making
a fortune the stage. for the public, however
fckIe IN affairs of great import will flock TO see,
and unchangingly admire danseuse who has any
degree of grace and personal magnetism.
Miss Angela Church is one Of the stars that
only appear for sweet charitys sake, and so Is
Mrs. Burden Cynthia Roche). One Of the most
graceful Of the younger amateurs is little MISS
Holmes, of Orange. who floats across the stage on
her In the most difficult or real oaiIel steps
as bit OF thistledown might.
For a long time the question OF raising neces-
sary funds for various enterprises for hospitals
churches and other institutions has been serious
enc for the fairs which used 20 be held annually
have lost their attraction 1t was genius. there
fore who remembered the charm Of indoor ker-
nesses held during the cold weather and trans
ferred the idea to the country, where one may
now attend almost every week some open air en-
tertainment and peasant dances Of all descrip-
tors given with vim and modified abandon that
delight the most hardened critic OF fancy dancing
The fascination of the environment which nature
provides cannot be resisted. and with the modern
facilities for turning night into fairy-tale day
the real moon ofttimes ecpsed by the electric one
in Geisha dance-sueh spectacles are truly en-
chanting. And each Of these affairs has
GONE dance invented for It, no one can claim 70
have seen another Just like it."
An important feature Of the open air kermess Is
that every one has equal interest, and while all
are working together for the object. they can
still hold TO their little cliques, which seems
to be the keynote of true happiness among women
of all classes For instance. Mrs. A can ask only
her nearest and dearest friends to be in the dance
under her Jurisdiction Also. the girl who dances
well can pick and choose the dance she prefers. for
points are stretched at such a time II the dance
has an ambitious sponsor. and she will often ask
girl ION the edge" OF the set to come quite into
the middle of her charmed circle II she pirouettes
on fairy toes and has an Irresistible sidestep.
The pageautry and glitter and fris OF the snow
nv no means represent the trouble il all involves.
and II every gave in hard cash what ne or
she fritters away in the preparations and IN nuy-
ing useless things the booths the charity would
reap a far larger harvest, and strength would be
saved as well Iucre. But the anxiety and re-
sponsibnity of the orignators OF the scheme OF
having a kermess,' which probably was hrst
airly suggested some bridge tea, pales to moth
inRness before that of the person who teaches the
dances and whose worst nightmare must be a
rehearsal to which nobody comes, and the per-
formance follow in an hour II man. the
rules are more street. ard the girls and men come
more nearly on time. But IL woman, her trials
are never ending. and she will have 10 exercise
all the tact she possesses 10 avoid disputes that
women start with smile or a wink, ana tnat II
permitted to grow overnight mean open ennity
I'm the ranks Then. too, the teacher is bound TO
hear adverse comment about her ideas, and IRE
auently finds stubborn will pitted against her
knowledge and Judgment of what Will prove
taking dance, for il Is often true that catchy
little step or bob OF the head will bring round
of applause and several encOres. where intricsey
and studied poses although perfect in their way
have no allurement Another matter OF invarlaoie
contention is the costume No two girls will feel
alike on this subject and unless hrmness is dis
plavad by those in command the effectiveness
will be spoiled by difference In sash or bow
placing.
But there is no end Of good times m the az
ranRement of open air dances. even though
lot of trouble attends each detail. and no more
beautiful sight can be imagined than well staged
performance given baimy summer night 10
which the world and his wife have come In best
attire as an apprecatve audience