The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-16
LEARN To DANCE.
Hrs. Noble Prentis Would Have
School Children Taught.
Writes to Mayor Green After
Observations in Chicago.
HE APPROVES OF 1T.
MayOrBelieves SuggestiOnsPrac-
tical for Topeka Schools.
Topeka Play Festival" May Be
Held in Short Time.
HE APPROVES OF 1T.

If the suggestions of Mrs. Noble
Prentis of this city are carried out,
the work of the Children's Play
ground association in Topeka will be
extended in such a manner that all of
the old and we'll known dances and
steps of the age will be taught the
public school children. To give grace
and beauty of body as well as physi-
cal advantages is the idea of the dane
ing by the children and the matter
Will be considered seriously by the
Fairgrounds association of the city.
Mrs. Noble Prentis is in Chicago in
the interests of her new history of
Kansas. She has watched with in
terest the work of the children's play
grounds in that city and has written
number of excellent ideas and OBJ
servations to Mayor William Green.
1t is the hope of Mrs. Prentis that
the children of the city may give in
the near future play festival" This
plan has been approved by the local
enthusiasts along these lines and it is
but question of a short time until
matters can be shaped for the pres
entatiOn of the plan.
To promote the play and recreative
spirit through festivals of play, sport
folk games and national dances is the
idea of the childrens play festival
a close study of this sort of dancing
viii have to be made by the conserva-
tive people of Topeka who object to
rem to indulge. But it will be seen
that the dancing of the children in
the festivals is far different from the
strange hold" variety of the dance
halls.
The children are taught under com
petent instructors the "How-do-you
do" dance, calisthenics with fancy
steps Wooden Shoe. Green Sleeves,
Vingal<er Barn. English. Swedish. the
Floralma, Highland SchOttische. Roy
al Clog. West High Sword dance.
Scotch Reel. Highland Fling. Sheahn
Trews, Clog, Wild Birds. Hornpipe,
OK dance, Spanish dance. Irish Wash
erwoman and Hungarian Tzigane.
These are samples of the varieties
of dances taught. All of them are
technical actions of the feet, toes, legs
and bodies and perfect the grace and
beauty that gives a child a lasting at
Effectiveness.
1t is planned to hold this Topeka
Play Festival in some large hall in the
city. The Auditorium could be fitted
mp to accommodate the crowds as well
as the work of the children. The fes-
tival includes hundreds of accomplish
ments learned under instructors by the
children.
For the girls there would be march
ing tactics, free exercises Dances Bo-
henlian folk dances, file races. star ball
wrestling in circle. three deep. dodge
ball. travelling ball. Indian clubs, flag
drills, dumbbell drill. swimming drill,
aymnastic exercises. playground ball
jumping jacks. wand drill and steps
ring exercises. Jewish Sherelech. and
many other exercises mostly of the
dancing variety.
For the boys there is calisthenics
with fancy steps, wand wrestling, wand
pushing, star ball. wrestling in circle,
number race in circle, dodge ball. rider
ball, company drill. indoor baseball.
swimming drill. mat work, races, Irish
dance, tug of war. tumbling, parallel
bars, relay racing, stunts on horizontal
bar, ring game, marching drill bands
music. club swinging, rattan reed drill,
turner's, free hand exercises, quarter
staff drill, and dancing of all kinds.
Mrs Prentis' Letter.
In speaking of the event at Chicago
Mrs Prentis said in her letter to Mayor
Green:
There were 10000 people to witness
the beautiful and most interesting plays
end danceS-I am so glad Topeka has
taken up the matter of public play
grounds and hope they will consider
the matter of gymnastic dancing, in the
public schools, one of the most potent
factors in promoting the play fetes
While realize that conditions are rad
ically different here 1 do think Topeka's
scope could be extended to the limits
of Shawnee county. There could be
neighborhood centers organized in
school districts. where school children
could be taught intelligent plays-there
could be contests in running, jumping,
Volley ball. and other athletic games at
an annual play festival
In ending her letter Mrs. Prentis
said: Il hope that you will not deem
me presumptuous in sending these sug-
gestions but when 1 tell you that To-
peka is the dearest place on earth to
me and that in all the great opportuni-
ties 1 have here in Chicago for seeing
and hearing the best 1 am continually
wishing that the good things could be
passed on to my people"
In commenting upon the letter Mayor
William Green said: II believe that the
suggestions made by Mrs Noble Prem
tbs are good and practical and L would
like to see them carried out in To-
peka.''