The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-17
How Gentle Terpsichore is Abused
by Modern Votaries Of SGdby Glide''
Secret of Beauty She n
and Take the Ito Attain Health

| We must bark back not few years
today were in short skirts-to recall the
time when the few plain foundation steps
of dancing were esteemed sufficient for
the variation yf the numbers on ball
programme, sandwiched in between more
or less easy quadrilles.
The ancient Racquet was an innova-
ton which to the conservative was start
| ling and to the piim shocking.
But it marked the beginning of the trend
| in dancing, which was soon followed by
1.-THE Barn Dance" which finally, posi-
tvely determined that the old fashioned
waltz should not be the only thing that
was danced by fashionable society.
Imperceptibly all dancing has been muv-
ing toward figures and steps" that
are properly slassed as fancy dancing"
and indeed are not very far removed from
stage dancing.
The girl who dozen years ago would
have been regarded as quite an accom-
plished partner, Is today almost as COM
pretey out of 1t, If she has not taken
the trouble to acquire a fresh repertoire
of steps.
How these divers and sundry dances
have sprung int olife IS very mys-
terious-perhaps after all they arrived
as Minerva sprung from the brow OF
Jove. full fedge1 from REPOSITORIES own
toe-but at least they are enough of a
fad now to warrant the best of us in
having some curiosity on the subject.
Ipi.t,.f .f.,t, taar tnxr in
the world today, is dancing mad.
'Everybody's doing itl
Old and young, rich and poor, they are
all taking iing at the new dances and
some of them are 1inging prstty high
mean-well
Mr.. }. r. Miles talks interestingly of
dancing.
Dancing" Mr.. Miles went on to say,
us the post pleasant of all exercises, and
it has proved the most serviceabe. It's
accompaniment of pleasing music, rhyth-
nlical beguilement, its vigorous action,
and social usefulness, have easily won
for it foremost place among educative
exercises. Social dancing, ballet dancing,
step dancing, iigure dancing, historic
dancing, aesthetic dancing, and finally
Interpretive dancing, have all become pop
ular in late years. Dancing is the
rhythm of the body and is the most ex-
quisite form of grace"
Just what does rhythm mean"
asked; Its such an elastic word?"
Rhythm was the answer, "is co-or-
dination and on the understanding OF Il
all dancing is based. Some people are
born with a sense of rhythm. some
achieve it, while others have it thrust
upon them. Haven't you noticed in
ballroom that many people pay no attsn-
ton whatsoever to the music? The band
may be playing a two step, and half of
the crowd will be waltzing or turkey
tiotting? There's no rhythm there, for
the dancing is not the Interpretation of
the music. Look out on the street and
you'll see man with hand organ and
a little street urclfin dancing to the n,u-
sic in perfect iia rmony. That is a beau
ttul demonstration of rhythm. A little
gutter waif with a sense of rhythm
has no need of the lesson that those who
do not know how to coordinate their
movements should take
What are the advantages of dancing
to the society matron?" | asked
ut gives her poise and grace, teaches
her how to. carry herself well, and walk
properly
And to the working girl?" / inquired.
II splendid recreation for her." said