New-York tribune., 1910-01-09
TEACH BLIND TO DANCE.
Sightless Ones Find Nezc JOY
Learn Cooking AlsO.

Within the last few weeks has come into the
lives of the blind new pleasure. When few
years ago, they were taken from their long idle
ness and work given them to do when
they We're taught to weave scarfs, braid straw,
make baskets and brooms and do many other
money earning things the work itself came
upon them the keenest pleasure But now
they may be able to crafty with the rest of
mankind that most normal desire after day
of useful toll a longing for active amusement.
Some one has conceived the idea of teaching
them to dance
The New York Association for the Blind, of
which the late Richard Watson Glider
president has decided to make two novel expert
ments. One is it's cooking class and the other
its dancing class Both of these are showing,
after only few lessons, most encouraging
suits. In fact, it seems to one who watches
these active people going about their work
and pleasure that the blind can do everything
but see
All they want is a little being shown how,
a little assistance at first in getting their bear
ings, and they won't need ordinarily any more
instruction. Sympathy is usually resented One
young girl who belongs to the dancing class,
when asked by visitor how the idea of dan
cling appealed to her, responded:
We'll, have feet the you have"
Il
under a specialist teacher. At home they
practising all the time, they declare. Just at
present they are learning the lancers and some
simple folk dances.
THE only difficulty | have in teaching my
blind Glass; said the instructor from the Uni
versity Extension Society who has been selected
for this difficult task, lis to get them to stop
laughing and talking with another long
enough to listen to what l say. They al
ways Joking. | have to scod them and threaten
to go away without finishing the lesson. That
brings silence in hurry
Are they hard teach?' she asked
"Do they get the rhythm with the step"
They very easy to teach when you think
that they denied sight, the most important
aid in getting the idea of the step. l try to
give them the rhythm by swaying with them
and letting them absorb it by feeling my move
ments The step itself they learn by STOPPING
down, by one. and putting their hands
my feet | go through a unit of the dance.
'Of course. had to give them some physical
culture lessons first They were not able to do
even simple dances you see, till their limbs
were strengthened This is the first time that
anything sedentary has been attempted
with the blind, and consequence of long
years of sitting and SLOW moving their muscles
labhy. The girl who said while ago that
she hdu 1ect as Wei as We was quite right.
They have everything the same as we. except
eyes and, curously enough had ali forgot
ten that they needed the exercise.
Until only a few Years ago we let them not
only sit, but sit in idleness long days, long
years OF ideness. Then gave them books
to sit ana read, and We felt proud that had
done much Next Ne devised sedentary work
for them to do with their hands. We could
hardly have given them more JOY if had
uddenly provided item with eyes. But
pr the first time il has occurred to that
Ternal chair coupled with darkness, be
prison house. SO teach them motion,
rhythm and speed. Watch them there in the
lancers advancing and retreating, crossing
ners bowling to partners swinging around in
the grand chain and swaying to the measures
Of the dance. They blind! Can you think
it? Do you them miss a step?"