El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-01-10
RUSSIAN DANCER
ENTERTAINS MANY
Light Footed and Twinkly
She Daintily Interprets
Lovely Music.

1t was in the dance of "The Bat ac-
companied by the Incompatible music OF
Johann Strauss that Mile. de Swirsky
seemed to find her best inspiration Mon
day night, though her lovely picture
dancing in the Ohaminade waltz and
mazurka left nothing to be desired. In
all the lighter moods the joy of life was
delleately expressed, and there was ex-
qulsite pleasure in watching the light
swlriIng draperies, the soft changing
tlntss and the dainty feet scarce touch
ing the floor. And IN these i0vous
eaTe-free numbers it was her body auiv-
ering with animation that expressed the
gladness Of the theme and interpreted
the music most effectually. for the Young
Russian herself seems Sistful of nature,
almost sad, perhaps a heritage or ma
tionality, and her face is not the most
expressive of primitive happiness.
Reposeful, sad eyed, in Russian folk
dances, her moods changed swift as light.
and music had to rush along in sharp
quick accented rhythm to keep pace with
her flying feet. Youthful grave dignity
one moment, birdlike freedom of artifi-
eial restraint the next; the sorroWful
backward look-then TO emer0e so nat
urally into the hopeful indulgence of a
warm blooded present moment to be
grasped and turned to joyous account
before the twilight nists let fall the:r
mysterious wells again
Familiarity with the Creig music of
the Peer Gynt suite and with the story
must have added considerably To pleas
uralble understanding of this group OF
dances. The Interpretation of the .DeatP
Of Aase'', a somber masterpiece of har-
monte surprises and wofnl suggestion.
was wonderful enough to be watched in
detail, and one experience of such care
fully thought out artistry is not con.
elusive; certainly the Russian dancer
has not only most expressive features,
for her serious moods. but her
postures would be at once the despair
and delight of SCULPTOR they are so
perfectly graceful even IN attempting to
depict tragedy or hoTror.-so statue like
in balance, in purity of line. In the as
pect of a life's one isolated moment of
vivid experience and BETRAYED emotion
yet so changeful, so fleeing, as to defv
the memory, the sculptors chisel, the
painters brush, and even the full per-
ception of the visual sense.
Many would have been glad to have
had more OF her own music. Mile. de
Swirsky is pianist of high accomplish
ment, and her playing furnished a de-
ligiFtf1ll and surprising interlude. The
orchestra was not so satisfactory, play
ing with little real understanding or APP
probation of the music; without de Swir-
sky's dancing the orchestral part of the
program would have been very common
place
The costumes of the Young dancer
We're beautiful. whether in the. brilliant
elaboration of the Russian marriage
dress, the soft tipts and diaphano1s
draperies for the Afazurka. or the Gre
clan types of the concluding series. The
simple stage treatment was effective and
the lighting for the most part well han
died. The talented young artist wa
greeted by larce and representative
audience and expressions of pleasure
we're general, applause generous and sin
cere.