Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-10-24
COMING SEASON DANCES.
Questioning" the WaItz-The "Coo''
One step Dancing Men.

'"rhe two step is practically dead,
that was the opinion of Charles d'Albert,
the vice-p president of the Imperial So
cety Of Dance Teachers. in reply to
question of a representative of the Pail
Mall Gazette as to which dance would
he the most popular during the, coming
season And the waltz, IL not dead, is in
a moribund condition
No one dances the waltz nowadays. al
though on dance programs one sees the
title waltz" but the dancers Ignore that
and Boston instead said Mr.. d'Albert
'If you ask me which will be the most
popular dances this winter I must reply
the oncstep' and the Boston,
On the program drawn UP for the dance
IN connection with the congress OF the
Imperial Society of Dance Teachers, held
in July last there were nine waltzes and
four twosteps. while lancers only figured
once. 1t might be said with truth that
out of the nine waltzes so-called not one
was danced in the old style; they were
"Bostoned" And now the twosteps are
turned into onesteps in the same way.
Asked how this change had come about.
Mr.. d'Albcrt said that first of all the
waltz was played too fast for an ordinary
waltz. that was the reason why people
Bostoned, and now the music was too
slow for Boston and too fast for
waltz. In reality good dancers practical
| ly shut their ears to the music. though
they keep to the rhythm of the music
while dancing, and therefore they can go
through the new movements SO success
fully.
The Boston as danced by experts is
the most graceful dance imaginable. and
the same might be said of the oncstep.
The whole of the body sways to every
movement of the dancer. and in that re-
! spect the Boston resembles closely the
old time minuet. which was generally
! conceded to have been most poetic in
movement. In olden days people danced
the minuet. and the remainder Of the
company looked on in admiration. but
now people dance to please themselves
and besides they were pleasure to look
at II their movements were graceful
The very latest form OF Boston Is the
double and triple movements which have
been brought from Paris, and the double
! Boston in particular will be seen at the
big dances this year. 1t Is not difficult
! to master and the same might he said Of
the onestep. The two dances are so sim
pie that no one could help becoming
proficient in four lessons.
The onestep is danced to twostep time
and consists of simply placing the feet
in ordinary walking movements, for
ward and backward and crossing and re-
firing. Then a great advantage the new
dances have over the old is the fact that
the dancers can keep so delightfully."- cool
while dancing. Heretofore after one
waltz the dancers. with but few excep-
tons, were uncomfortable warm and the
male partner became aware that his
collar was not quite so Immaculate as
when he entered the ballroom.
Dealing with the question OF the dearth
Of dancing men. dancing masters say
that such is no longer the case. and they
lind among their pupils seven times more
men than women. Men find, 1t is said
that in the new dances they can express
their individuality. they can infuse their
own spirit into the dance and this APP
peals to them. Few men ever become
perfect walters; they could learn the
steps correctly, but they remained stiff
and mechanical in their movements
But in the Boston and onestep they
thoroughly enjoyed the dance. and dance
fpSttSStS no longer Ddu To complain tilhl
they were unable to find partners for
their women guests. one or two dane
ing clubs had been started, which hay,
oone much to popularze dancing anon
young men. and 1t is the exception now
to find young man who cannot dance
well.
All our new dances come from Paris
and the teachers here 20 over there from
time to time TO learn the latest move
mentE or steps. Although In certain
, quarters in Paris the turkey trot' and
the bunny hug" are danced. still it i,
quite safe to say that they will not be
tolerated in London Hostesses do moi
wish to see their bathrooms vulgariZeC
, by such exhibitions. and some Of thos'
, responsible for wild evolutions last sea
son will not find so many cards on theli
mantlepieces this year.