Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1909-12-17
WEIRD DANCE FOR
S0CIETY'S EYES
RUTH ST. DENIS VIRTUES LIKE
SERPENT AT CHARITY BALL
IN CHICAGO.
Artistic WITH LIMBS BARE
Dancer Is Cheered When Exhibition Is
Concluded and Guests Recover
Their Breath.


CHICAGO, ILL.,, Dec 16.-Ruth St.
Denis, the dancer, Wednesday evening
exhibited her bare feet and legs to Chi
cago society for sweet charity's sake,
immediately following the grand march.
led by Mrs. Potter Palmer. on the arm
OF Gen. Frederick Dent Grant at the an
nual charity ball held at the Auditorium
theater.
The lights were lowered. Soon a 1.-the.
SIneWy hgure III brown glided across the
floor in her bare feet and then society
sat entranced while the celebrated dancer
performed her Hindu snake dance. The
transformation was almost magical 1t
was electrical i'll its effects
From the ballroom to the theater was
the work of an instant only. The great
bail room was i'll Semi-darknesS. Only a
few dim lights behind some of the boxes
shOne. There was Il hum of voices
pitched III low tones. 1t was the hum of
expectation
Feet and Limbs Bare
Two men, dressed IL the picturesque
garb of Hindus moved to the center of
the room. Oriental rugs We're spread on
the glistening floor. Two more Hmdus
appeared and moved down the floor. They
paused at the rugs, kicked off the san
dals on their feet and then, barefooted.
sat themselves down upon the rugs. The
music in the balcony started a weird
stain.
From one of the doors darted the fig -?
ure Ill brown. 1t was Ruth St Denis,
dancer. Her feet We're bare and so were
her legs. In the semi-darkness of the
immense room they showed pure white.
Bowling to the seated figures on her right
and left, Miss st. Denis began her snake
dance.
She wound her arms about her head
and body for all the world like kissing.
twining serpents. She writhed and she
glided about like an uncanny thing The
illusion of her dance was there. There
was a final bIare of trumpets. The mu-
sic ceased, and while yet the ballroom
WAS shrouded in gloom the dancer sped
once more to the exit.
Applause from Society.
Then the lights flashed again Society
recovered its breath. 1t broke out into
very society-like applause. 1t didn't
seem to be quite sure whether or not it
had realized the performance. 1t was
something startling; it was an innova-
ton, it was revolutionary; it was some
thing that seemingly had no part in Il
charity ball, with which were i'll attend
ance all of ChicagO'S best people
But society enjoyed the innovation as
an innOvation-and let it go at that.
Again the lights We're lowered. Again
the figure sped acros sthe ballroom floor
But this time her costume was even
more bizarre than on her first appear
ance. There were fewer clothes on the
1.-the, graceful dancer. Again she held
her big audience SpellbOund by the grace
and sinuousnesS of her movements
Again she disappeared, and again society
burst out in applause.
After Miss St. Denis had finished her
second dance she hurried to her dressing
room and CARRIED herself conventionalIy.
Dancer Is Lionized
Mrs. Palmer had been delighted with
the dancers performance. She dis
patched Capt. Fenton, one of Gen
Grants aides, to the dancers dressing
room. Miss ST Denis soon appeared on
the arm of the gallant captain, looking
anything but like the dancer who such
few minutes before had occupied the
center of the ball room floor and had
danced for the edification of Chicago So
ciety at a charity ball.
Miss st. Denis made her way to Mrs
Pal.ner's box and was warmly greeted
by the society leader. She was lionMed
for the rest of the evening.
The dance was a wonderful success"
said Mrs. Palmer, her face aglow and
her eyes bright. L was delighted with
it. | think it very charming feature
for a charity ball, don't you? 1t added
that delightful touch of color and
piquancy that was so much needed, you
know"