The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-06
A Morning Spent With The
Thursday Dancing Glass

the club swinging and the arm move
ments for @ longer time she can reraem-
Der, and who yawned openly during the
most strenuous of the exercises. but
never wavered once in following the in
struetor. At intervals between the ex
perienced members appeared a novice
there were two rank beginners. indeed,
wearing the forbidden stays and modish
street frochs. valiantly going through the
most impossible of the motions and doing
them surprisingly well. too, with tile help
of the Instructor and the advanced stu
dents, who are most generous with their
assistance. No embarra ssment appeared
when failure were made-there was
merely an excited anxiety to succeed
showing In big eyes and tense lips. An
occasional pause was made for rest. and
the short-frocked figures ran like breath
less excited children to the seats ar
ranged around the wall, and the laughter
and chat that had been pent Up so long
burst forth in a running comment on the
dance, extraneous gossip and what not.
When Mr.. Miles recalled them to the
hoor the cleVerest feats of the morning
were displayed A number of the barn
movements. graceful and jolly as well,
were accomplished with admirable skill
a combination schottiche- mazurxa was
charming: the two-step and waltz came
in for a share of the practice and the
last required more corrections than any
other point during the day. Il should like
to tell you some time" remarked Mr..
Miles, strolling over to where l stood
during a rest period, "how many obsta-
Giles a teacher of dancing must overcome
when he attempts to teach grown-ups to
waltz. 1t Ia the hardest problem we have.
At every meeting OF the associations of
dancing asters in the United States the
waltz is discussed. and the members are
of one voice in declaring that the dance
OF the great mass of people is absolutely
wrong. l have little trouble teaching 1t 10
my small pupils. 1t is difficult for those
who alread y dance to "unlearn' q step
which is incorrect"
The flushed faces and bright eyes OF
the women who crowded the dressing
room after tie lesson was completed
proved the excellence of dancing as an
exercise. The gloomy faces and reluctant
steps Of the little coteric gathered earlier
in the morning had given place to bright
laughter and quick movements, and the
little room, with its irresponsible chatter.
reminded one of Birmingham tea party.
Some have Joined the class for the sake
of this exercise, and some because they
recognize the force OF dancing as social
accomplishment, but all are achieving the
ShHiS results Joy lilul ~ MT llieftls t4ldl
OF form, line and rhythm but of the
hunsh heart
unquesticnahly the ancient art of dane
ing, which has been restored by such ex-
ponents of stage dancing as Mile. Adeline
Genee, with her ballet; 1sadora Duncan.
with her revival OF the ancient Greek
dances; Loie Fuller and her amazing SER
pentne dances; Maud Allen and the Sa
lone dance; Ruth ST. Denis, with her
picturesque Indian dances-has caught
popular favor. and 1t has become as i'm
portant to learn to dance correctly as 70
perform any other social function prop
erly. Dencing can't be picked Up. 1t
must be taught and practiced. It does
not seem to require very long to make
an artistic dancer-the vast majority of
Mr. Miles pupils had only had eight les
sons when they executed the Double
Boston, which is the smart new step in
the dancing circles, the old Varsovlanna
and the beautiful Spanish dance. To be
sure, 1t takes a long time to become a
premiere danseuse. Nile. Genee. the little
Danish dancer began al years of age,
and her training requires two hours of
practice still to keep I'm condition. But
this Is not the aim among the society
women of Birmingham; it is rather 10
attain perfection in another accomplish
rrent, Just as 50 many have done at
bridge and golf and riding, and dozens of
other things that make our women sec
ond to none in charm of manner and
person.