The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-17
BY MYRTLE MILES.

The revival of dancing in the east has
spread to our city and Birmingham So
ciety this winter will revel in terpsicho-
rean intricacies, which will include the
simplest of ballroom dances; the gavotte,
the polka, the waltz; the folk dances and
the stately minuet as well. The minuet
is being revived and now every one who
asplres to be au fait in ball room accom-
pllshments must become an adept in this
as well as in the rollicksome barn dance.
When Mr.. ]. e. Miles returned from his
stay in the east, where at the Chalif
school of dancing, he prepared for the
work he expected to introduce here this
winter, he was most enthusiastic OF all
over the minuet, and has already started
its teaching among his juvenile pupils
who are dancing it with all the natural
grace of their supple little bodies. He ex-
poets. as well, to present 1t to the older
folk, and it will spring into the popular
ity its beauty deserves. This and many
of the more stately ball room dances CT
forgotten years will be included in the
list of happy pastimes that are to en-
gage the larger half OF Birmingham So
ciety this winter. This will be a dancing
season, for the spirit which found ex-
precision last season in private dancing
classes needs no fostering for
veritable wave of athletic enthusi-
asm has broken and this is to be entered
Into with the same effort to excel that
one finds on the golf links at the Coun-
try club, in the classes of women hand
ling the Indian clubs or swimming in the
pool at the athletic club, or mounted on
gallant horse at the riding school,
Dancing is one of the most healthfui
of all forms of exercise as we'll as one OF
the most pleasant. 1t is the road pointed
out now by many d nerve specialist and
physician to perfect health, for it is said
that one can literally dance ones way TO
health and beauty If one has but the de-
sire and energy, for nothing more is re-
CURED than learning the STEP There is
probably no other sport or form OF ath-
letic training for women which brings
into play so many muscles and gives them
such thorough exercise as athletic dane
ing and this fact is being turned to ac-
count in many of the large schools of
the north, where it has been made a part
of the course. A Highland Fling for
agility, a Russian dance TO make one
light and svelte; a Swedish student frolic
to give grace of FORM make beauty where
no beauty existed before and fulfill every
requisite exercise-the practical use of sill
the muscles, the acme Of pleasurable emo
tion and the satisfaction of the esthetic
sense. These facts have become so pat
ent that the dance has become a part
OF the education in the public schools Of
New York. Mr.. Miles, who, few days
ago in discussing his plans for the sea-
son, expressed a desire to see it thus
introduced in the Birmingham schools,
said: Limited space for the perform
ance of athletic exercise in the crowded
schools of New York first led to the in
PRODUCTION of dancing, for it has been
found that in a given space there is more
real, all-round physical exercise In dane
ing than in gymnastics or any team
game. A few of the New York teachers
who believed in the work volunteered
their services to teach dancing during
the brief afternoon leisure and the classes
were held on the roof Fairgrounds The
first few months there were only about
200 children thus taught. Last year there
were 1000, and this year the number has
reached about 10000. while the exercise
is a recognized factor in the school ath-
letics. This shows how dancing is grow
ing In Importance. 1 am anxious that it
shall be introduced in our schools here
and believe it to be only a question of
time. | have already an enthusiastic
class composed of Birmingham teachers -
There is much enthusiasm evinced in
the morning class which is just forming
and which will be composed only Of
women. Before organizing Mr. Miles will
issue several hundred invitations to a
demonstration of the work which he plans
TO present and these invitations will in
clude the coterie of prominent women