South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-09-09
DANCES GROWING
MORE IMMORAL
Downward Tendency in Dane
ing Keeps Pace with Immod-
eSty in Dress.
BY BEN II. GRIMM.

With the arrival of the new diapha-
nous and x-ray gown from Paris, two
new variations on the turkey trot and
tango dances have been originated to
fit the dresses, and they are steadily
growing in the favor Of the habitues
of cabarets and among New York's
younger social set. The dances were
conceived to show the new gowns TO
their best advantage and are known
as the "Diaphanous Dip" and the
silhouette Slide.
The "Diaphanous Dip" is danced in
two-step time, and, in parts, closely
resembles the Grapevine" movement
of the tango. The dance is begun
with four skipping steps, followed by
the lin and out" steps, the couple zig
tagging across the floor and bending
the knee at each turn. This ben ling
of the knee constitutes the dip .. The
dance as originally devised shcSSd not
the least sign of suggestiveness, out
the manner in which it is dance in
some Of the cabarets is indecent 10
say the least.
Danced to Waltz Time.
The Silhouette Slide" is danced Il
waltz time, and seems to be a cross
between the ordinary round waltz and
the old-fashioned caprice. The first
movements of this new dance are
three long, sliding steps, from which
the dance gets its name; followe by
the ordinary waltz steps. three turns
right and left. The couple again
slide and continue with the waltz.
The dance made its daring debut in
one of the better cabarets through
the medium of a party of young folk
of the footlights. Ten couples pari;-
tipated. the girls of the group wearing
diaphanOus and X-ray gowns, cut IN
the latest pattern of evening dresses,
very much decOllete, and made OF
white gauzy material resembling
China silk. The men of the party
were dressed in white fiannels.
All lights in the ballrooml were
turned out with the exception of four
powerful. color-changing search
lights. two at either end of the floor
and set at a height of about two feet
from the floor. The searchlights
changing color mOmentarily, and lay
ing on the group Of gyrating girls and
their flannel clothed partners, pro-
duced a startling Kaleidoscope effect,
and suffice it to say that the powerful
rays OF light were strong enough to
prove that the titles silhouette Slide"
and "Diaphanous Dip" were appropri-
ate TO marked degree.
Fad GdOws in Favor.
Since then the fad for this particu-
lar form of dancing has grown in such
favor with the WOrshippers Of the
ragtime Terpsichorean Goddess. who
frequents cabarets and who make up
a large part of the night life of the
Great White Way, that the man.
agement of the various place.; in
which dancing is INDUCED in, have
been compelled to run the search
light dances as a regular feature.
One who is favored with d glimpse,
Immediately becomes absOrbinSly in
terested in the various forms-of
dancing exhibited, and the daring
dancers are appreciatively limned by
the onlookers at the tables. Putting
it as modestly as possible. the Diapha-
nous Dip" and Silhouette Slide"
dances are bound to become as fas-
cinating an attraction for the man
about town and the man whose wife 5
away, as they are to the many lovers
of the various popular syncopating
ballroom gyrations.