The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-28

ihpdtii tNiSSi w tAN
1 i public as it did and does the
charming episode in Joan Saw
yer's appearance at the Palace Theatre
mean that there is to be "A permanent de-
parture from the steps of the tango, the
hesitation waltz or any Of the variations
Of the one step? Miss Sawyer still does
the dances associated with her name but
there is a character dance in fancy cos
tune TO the music Of the familiar In the
shadows which is really an idyllic and
charming performance. Miss Sawyers
expertness in this kind OF dancing proves
that she had learned the rudiments of her
art before she took up the comparatively
harmless one step and its variations.
What must that stage manager think who
discharged her from company because
she could not dance? He has acquired
since Miss Sawyer became the foremost
ballroom dancer of her time a fame second
only TO her own. Nobody has ever men,
toned the beauty and grace Of her dane
ing and her rise to fame without calling
attention to the fact that there once was
stage manager who said she could not
dance. Thus did he acquire his halo.
The total disappearance OF the 5o-called
classic dancing which came into exist
ence with Isadora Duncan showed how u
lad may pass out Of view or course the
only dancing that lasts is that OF the real
classic ballet. just as Fanny Elssler danced
In her day, so does Anna Pavlowa in hers.
Their dancing is Of the highest type OF art
that dancing allows. It's traditions never
change in essence. although the fashion
IN dancing does have its effect on the
Standards of the ballet. lsadora Duncan
who carried her original fashion Of dane
ing 10 higher degree OF artistry than any
Of her imitators, had a marked impression
on the dancing OF the classic ballots. One
need only see the work of the most famous
Russians OF the day TO realize to what a
degree Miss Duncan's principles affected
them. Initiating her freedom from the
artitclallty of the ballet, herfreer line. as il
We're IN the nanRuvres Of the dance. they
impaired freshness and elasticity to the
Old ballet which it had never revealed
before
The skirt dancers OF the late sos were
an h-very-product that with all
their dlintiness and refinement always
Smoked Of the drawing room. and it
seemed as If any pretty girl ought to be
able 10 get up in the drawing room after
dinner and do 1t about as well as the best
Of them But such opponents of this
dverting practice as Lefty Lind anc
sylvia Grey possibly she was the mos,
expert OF them all, although marriage
and retirement from the stage kept hel
from being as famous as some OF hel
oolleagles-used to reveal il.
Probably the enjoyment Of this dane
ing was greatest because it was a protes
against the formality of the old balle'
OF which the public had grown weary
takes the appearance OF a great dancer
\ ~ different periods 70 keep up interest ir
me ballet in countries such as this and
England which do not support dancing
oY means OF large subsidy. The mere
repetition by one mediocre dancer of tbs
routine steps OF the old ballet is going tC
wear out any nation after a while. This
temperance Of such a genius OF tht
cdhce, however, as Taglioni or Elssler o.
uehee or Pavlowa-this generation hal
/ fortunately possessed the two OF them
' revlves the public's interest in this ar
,vead lt flowers afresh.
] out no woman on the stage could agar
anarm the spectator with the most exper
" &os that was ever danced, nor could any
@iiors hornpipe. however gracefully /
might be performed. awaken the en-
Wlsiasun OF metropolitan public. Prob
soly the modern will also disappear
p4' II Will have left its effect on the con
"NporaneOus sta e dancing lust as al
dancing has been affected by the prevail
ing fashions Miss Sawyer is the first O
ne popular opponents of the most mod