The Washington herald., 1909-04-18
By RUDOLPH DE ZAPP.


Dancing as a means OF giving grace
and subtlety 70 the movements Of the
body as we'll as adding strength and
alertness 70 the neither limbs IS an Of
/ hcially recognized institution az both the
West point Military Academy and at the
Annapolis Naval Academy Semi-oficial
/ recognition to dancing Is given az the
Presidential Inauguration festivities when
the newly swOrn-in President Of the
United States is supposed 70 open the
Inauguration ball which usually takes
place IN the evening Of HIS first day IN
Office, in the Pension once.
Many a clever diplomat through his tai
ents as a graceful dancer has succeeded
/ in ingratiating himself with the ladies Of
the court % which he IS accredited there
! By opening way for himself 10 gain
favors from the court more easily than
others less fortunate. Dancing consu-
tutes one Of the chief assets Of aspiring
young noblemen and military officers at
foreign courts. Fer instance. there are
two "chief dancers" az all court func-
tiOns Of Emperor William OF Germany
These dancers must also act IN this
capacity at the houses OF the nobility
and high officials. where the Kaiser.
Kaiserin, their sons and daughter. or
any Of their kin. visit OF an evening.
Whenever royalty invites its friends and
servants. or invites itself % the houses
OF officials and subjects. there is dancing
But as royalty does its dancing accord
ing 70 certain traditions and rules, royal
chief dancers are appointed every win
ter 10 instruct the younger princes and
princesses and oversee the lesser. people
invited 10 court functions.
The chief dancers, as a rule. are Sc
lected from the crack regiments Of the
Kaiser's bOdyguard. They are handsome.
manly, and c0urtly. During the dancing
season these gentlemen. who always wear
their gorgeous uniforms, are excused
from active army service. but must work
, harder for their living than during the
most strenuous maneuver periods.
AT all court functions and at private
and Official residences where any mem
Der Of the royal house appears. the chief
dancers have the following duties 70 per
form They must regulate the number OF
dancing cOuples-nOt too many or not
too few-at one and the same time They
must see 70 IL that there are no wall
flowers, even IL they have % dance them
selves half a dozen times wiki the same
lady. one Of the gentlemen. alternating.
/ leads the dance. from first 10 last. setting
the pace for the rest This is especially
important - a princess is 10 dance
The selected partner OF such a great
parsonage IS advised OF the honor in
tended for hin by the chief dancer with
this phrase: Her royal highness. Prin-
O. N-e
/ you 70 assist her az the waltz" naming
Sour and. minute. Please keep in readi-
ness. 7 viii conduct you into the ROYAL
presence in time.
Then follow the instructions. You
must keep az a distance OF eighteen
I inches from her royal highness. You
must not touch her arm. except where
! II Is covered by gloves. Before starting
/ you must bow three times tc their
/ maJesties and every royal highness on
/ the dais- II YOU fall win her rOvaI high
ness, or allow her 70 fall you viii be
! forever disgraced.'
The latter adnonItion IS usually repeat
ed more than once. FOR Il is not vet for
gotten that the famous painter PiI0ty
/ once measured the floor with the crown
princess. afterward Empress Frederick.
At the houses where royalty visits the
I chief dancers arrange the uroEramue
/ and often demand q rehearsal This Is
always done when the Emperor o.. En-
press has expressed a wish 70 dance.
the chief dancers being ordered 10
procure partners OF special aptitude in
the noble ART Of Waiting. r. there are
debutanJes. pretty OF face and figure the
chief dancers rehearse with them certain
favoTite dances OF royalty and afterward
report 20 the Kaiser and the princes.
whether Baroness. or Countess SO-andSo.
excels IN waltz, polka, or sch0ttische.
Il IS understood IN this connection that
King Edward is considering favOrablv a
petition from the dancing teachers who
wish old dances revived al state balls II
Is said that The King and Queen were 50
enchanted with the minCets and pavanes
as danced al the German court, that they
have decided 10 introduce them at Buck
ingham Palace state halls. where. a. the
men present wear either court dress OF
uniform, they viii not loOc o out OF place
dancing stately minuets.
II the King would command that one
new dance be included IN the programme
OF each state bah he would set the vogue
for all the bathrooms in the kingdom. o"