The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-12-12
GOOD OR BAD ARE
new DANCE STEPS
Grizzly Bear Dance in Po-
lite Form is Not Vul-
gar But Deplored.


fashioned as square dance.
The other night the first junior CO.
tillion took place at Sherry's but the
manner OF its happening was Ham
let" with Hamlet left out. For no CO.
tillion was danced because OF the al
most universal desire OF the younger
set to dance the grizzly bear.
To be sure Mayor Fitzgerald of Bos-
ton. recently announces. that ii the
grizzly wear were danced in any of the
halls OF that city it would be sufficient
warrant for revocation OF the license
OF the place inwhich 1t was allowed.
However. Mayor FItzgerald's words
are NcnS IN his teeth by no less a
person than Alviene. Frank Could
old dancing master. and the instruc-
tor OF many young men and women In
the four hundred. Aiviene declares
the grizzly bear Is a perfectly nice.
tuneful, enjoyable dance, only like
other good things, 1t may be abused.
'In its correct form it Is quite sim
pie and delightful" he explained. 1T
begins with on two-step measure. dane
ed to one side, and second twO-step
measure danced to the other. Then
clasped with uplifted hands. the dan
GERS take four half-time steps in a
circle. 1t Ia this move OF the dance
which IL it's distinguishing feature and
from which the name was derived, for
the motion combined with the uplifted
arms reminds one Of the pictures of
grizzly bear rearing up and advancing
to meet it's enemy. After the half-time
steps the two-step measures follow
again, and then the grizzly bear mo-
ton is repeated.
PERSONALLY. l do not think the
dance particularly pretty or graceful
But, like the Boston and other recent
Iavorites, 1t lends itself to freedom Of
movement and q certain romping ten
dency common among young people.
However. when 1t is properly danced
there Ia nothing offensive to modesty."
But there are plenty of unseemly
possibilities in the grizzly bear, i'm
properly danced, and Alviene Is quick
to admit that.
In certain circles even the name is
not understood" he declared. 1t Is
thought to mean that the dancers
must stand extraordinarily close to-
gether. In l, .tation Of the grizzly bear
hug. That is why spectators have
sometimes asserted that 1t resembled
O huEging match. In this undignified
and improper position the man extends
his arms straight forward, resting
each under the girls arms. The CIR;
puts her arms directly around the
shoulders of the man, and they are
% close together as they can be and
move.
Another vulgar variation of the
way Of holding a partner Is shown
when the dancers both crook their ell
bows out at the side holding them at
stiff right angles to the body. Their
hands meet in the middle, and the OIL
bows OF one partner rest lightly
on the elbows of the other Again the
two are drawn close together in an
nlndecorous as we'll as ungraceful po-
sition.
But the most offensive feature ever
seen In the grizzly bear dance con-
sists of the body movements. These
made up the real reason the turkey
trot was 80 severely condemned, and
they have been transferred without
palliation to the new dance. They in
clude a sidewise swaying Of the hips
and thrusting forward of the torso
or abdomen beyond the normal posi-
ton.
Needless to say. all these motions
are not only ugly. but offensive to re-
fined taste. They were originally cop
led from the most depraved stage
dances, such as no decent person
would practice. even professionally.
But they certainly are an accepted
part Of the grizzly bear, as it is now
and then danced. They are not con.
fined to the lowest class Of dance
halls. either. for reckless gayety gets
tho upper hand of social decorum more
often than Is generally thought.
"Properly danced, the grizzly bear
dance Is all right; abused it is not
lit to be mentioned in the presence of
ladies'
The grizzly bear is one of the
dances included under the ban OF the
committee on amusements and vaca-
ton resources of working girls of
which Mrs. Charles II. Israels is chair
man.
Il thing 1t is a great pity that socie-
ty women should take up this disgrace
full dance. even II they stick to a mild
and refined version Of it," says Mrs.
lsraels. Their influence is so wide
and farreaching. When the newspa-
pers chronicle that Mrs. Somebody OF
Newport introduced and danced the
grizzly bear at her ball it Is only to
be expected that young people seek
ing to be socially correct should imi-
tate.
"How can we expect to arrive at a
decent standard for dancing when we
have continually to fight the assertion
that suggestive dances are taking
place In the homes OF the leaders of
ioctety?'
The Rule Of Safety.
Il you would be content never Dor
row nor lend. This refers to trouble
and money.-Puck.