El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-20
HAsKIN WRITES
on DANCING


She made her strongest impression
/ upon me from the fact that she origin
ated the accordion plated skirt Her
art, If such it was, left no lasting I'M
preston upon me"
The Social Dance.
The social dance is decidedly moo-
ern Institution when compared with
the professional dance. tThe different
7 figures and dances Of the earliest forms
were conceived by the court dancing
master who studied and created them
in much the same manner that an ar
list creates a picture. Some Of them
were quickly forgot but others passed
down from generation to generation
The stately minuet will never go ell
tirely out OF fashion although II mas
. been seldom seen during the last rev
years It has lately had a revival OF
interest and some Of the bellies ana
beaux of the present danced out the
old year with as stately tread as
their colonial ancestors The mlnuet
I is by popular tradition the oniy osnCS
permitted to the mistress Of the white
house. There may be waltzes and two
steps for the entertainment OF her
guests, but the first lady in the land
Obstains from them.
The minuet is of French origin. II
was originally rural dance and came
to Paris about 1850. 1t flOurished DUR
ing the reign OF Louis XIV but was
most popular under Louis Nv. Inc
quadrille is also of French origin ana
first this resembled the minuet and
had stately steps which have so de-
generated that to most people II IS NJ
tie more than walking through dance
The waltz is OF German origin. The
popularity OF the waltz IN America was
first due to the fact that, about the
middle of the 18th century fashionable
young men from New York and the
southern states were sent 10 vienna 70
complere their education Many or
far1f 81 ed
trian cavalry to learn to fence, 10 RIDE
and TO dance. The Austrian offlccrs
were considered the best walters IN
the world and the American men learn
ed from them. The Boston dance which
appeared about the time Of the civil
war was a form OF waltz resulting
from the demands Of the German waltz
and the refusal Of the New England
conscience TO relax
Two step Supplants the Waltz.
The two step has supplanted the
waltz in popularity in many places. II
was largely popularized by Sousa
whose two step compositions are as
much in favor as the Strauss Waltzes
Both the two step and the waltz re-
quire a greater amount Of dancing skill
than some Of the other popular dances,
and for this reason are not likely TO go
entirely out Of favor Both are largely
dependent upon their musical accom-
paniment for their success.
Each year brings out some new
dance figure which is as a novelty,
popular with a certain class OF people
even though strongly criticised by the
conservative. The f'rauuet was a va
riety Of shOttische which had a fleet
ing favor with the last generation.
Its legitimate successor is the barn
dance which was introduced two or
three years ago and is Still popular in
some localities. The barn dance" IS
generally accompanied by some form OF
rag-time music ana, while il is not 10
be tolerated for formal occasions, IL
yet has certain attractions for exuber-
antly spirited young people
The "DarktoWn cake walk" which
was so much talked OF before the ad-
vent Of the barn dance" is almost
buried in oblivion. Tt is said TO be the
real African dance, although many
contend that il was never a dance but
only a walk with more or less empha-
sized eccentricities- It is supposed 10
have originated in plantation days
days when the best walker was award
ed the prize OF the evening, a huge
cake
Some OF the New Ones.
Lately several new dances with more
or less alluring names have been in [
roduced at social gatherings. One OF I
them is the turkey trot'' which has I
met with so much antagOnism- SINH
lar to the turkey trot@ in its pecui- /
iarity are the Grizzly Bear" Texas I
Tommy" and Come back kid" each
Of which is being danced by gay young 4
people in some Of the larger cities.
There has been a great change OF 4
FEELING among many people who form /
erly denounced the social dance There I
are few churches in cities, at any rate I
which absolutely prohibit It, although q 4
generation ago 1t was not unusual for 4
a member to be dismissed from church Z
membership for INDUCING in a single /
dance Many churches now are recog- I
nl2lng the dance as a valuable adjunct /
10 their work with young people I
Dancing teachers paid by the church \
sometimes train classes in the parish 4
house or social hall. Instead Of de- /
nouncing a healthful exercise. many
ministers are now turning their atten- D
ton to the consideration of means by l
church.
The same spirit Of toIerance prevails
among social workers Instead Of de-
nouneing young working girls for go
lng 10 dances, philanthrOpic women /
are trying 10 give them the pleasure of 4
dancing while protecting them from
harmful results. A committee has been
formed in New York city for the pur-
pose Of improving the dance halls ana
dancing academies patronized by Young
girls It has been found that the dance
halls are usually adjuncts to saloons
ana the girls who go there to dance
are urged to drink by the men they
meet The dancing academies give
classes three OF four nights a week to /
which tuition fees are asked. On other
evenings, and Sunday afternoons. all of
the pupils are permitted to attend pub-
lie dances which are open to others
1or an admission Of from to 25 cents
me committee is preparing q bin to I
present 10 the state legislature reuuir-
ing $50 license for keeping a dance
hail and the license is to be held re-
spOnsible for the good conduct Of the
place. It is proposed to start model
dancing academies in localities where
they are most needed as soon as sufff-
cient funds can be secured for the pur-
pose One thousand dollars will start
an Institution OF this kind which can /
be made almost self supporting
ARREST AT CLOVIS BRINGS
OUT NEWS OF A SHOOTING /
Clovis, n. NJ, Jan 2O-A shooting