The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-30
~HYSICAL culturists prefer to
put their pupils through their

put tnelr pupliB through Cnelf
:" exercises rhythmically. in
time with music. The recent wide
spread revival OF the ancient outdoor
dances Is another indication Of the
growing popular belief in the value
Of physical exercises that are
rhythmical. There are no records
OF human life on this planet ancient
enough to mark period when men
and women and children did rot
dance. Music, as we now have II,
literally developed out of the older
art of dancing.
Whoever hears rhythmical
strains Of music feels the impulse to
dance. Most people when in good
health and cheerful frame of mind
are easily induced to dance-and find
themselves the better for 1t. When
they are happy they sing, or feel a
desire to do so. At the bottom OF all
this is the universal, inherent sense
Of rhythm.
The normal heart beats rhythmi.
caIly; breathing Is rhythmical; al!
the processes of nature are on q
rhythmical plan. Then why uot an.
ply the benefits Of rhythm to our sys-
TENS Of education?
In fact, that very thing Is now be-
ing done--and naturally in Germany,
where most things philosophical in
their nature have their beginning.
There is an institute at Hellerau, in
Germany, In which the rhythms OF
performed music are the basis OF the
whole COURSE The elepents Of
music and Of dancing are the first
lessons the pupils are required TO
learn. and after that the whole
course is on rhythmical lines.
The work OF the Hellerau Insti-
tute, near the large city OF Dresden,
rests upon the teachings of jacques
Dalcroze and Adolphe Appia, who
worked out their systems indepen-
IDENTITY, the former in France and the
latter in Germany. They and their
numerous apostles claim that rhythm
Is n necessary element Of well.bal-
auced personality; that rhythm be-
longs to all that enters into their
lives, not In artistic expression alone.
1t is the coordination Of body and
soul, the means OF grace and beauty,
the source Of perpetual youth and
Joy.
Jecques-Dalcroze claims to ha-a
reduced rhythm to system, instead
of leaving 1t to chance development
and occasional use. He has given 1t
eyes, that 1t may work, not blindly,
but purposefully, purifying, elevat-
ing, economizing strength, and help
Ing man in every way. The inventor
is not merely musician. but one
who has put music into life in all
its parts.
Starting with gymnastics, he puts
a new spirit into them by the rhythm
of the motions, all done to music,
robbing exercise Of its monotony, and
adding pleasure to the expansion and
play Of muscular forces.
In the institute at Hellerau com.
plete courses are laid out for teach
ing rhythm In all it's variations. Chill
dren and adults may take up the
work. Some Of the pupils take
normal course. SO that they may
teach the system. while others take
as mucn or as little as they please
for their own Development Every
student Ia instructed for from two
and half to four hours daily. Those
who take the complete course have
to plan for three years work They
are taught rhythmical gymnastics
five hours weekly, Solfeggio FIVE
hours weekly, musical improvisation
two hours. turning ION apparatus)
SIX and ahalf hours. anatomy one
hour weekly, choral singing two
hours and modelling four hours.
The system presupposes appro-