Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-18
YOUTHFUL BALLET
PLEASES AUDIENCE
BY UNUSUAL ART
Depict the Artistic Union of
Poetry, Music and Motion
at the Little T h e atre {.
Pupils of Mrs. King.

| Mrs Mary Perry King, noted dance in
structress and interpreter, presented a
novel program of Ballad Dances" at the
| Little Theatre yesterday afternoon. These
dances, the Oldest and the newest combi-
nation of poetry, music and motion re-
celved the applause of a large audience,
in which there were many society people.
Under the auspices of the Philadelphia
Physical Education Society, of which DR..
II. TAFT Mckenzie is president, Mrs. King
was able to give her program before an
appreclative assembly of persons inter-
ested I'm dancing from a standpoint of in
depreciation and physical education.
The dancers, Miss Sybil Maitland, Miss
Marian Ballin and Miss LAUREL Carey, are
students of Mrs. King and have been
trained by her for months. They will
go with her on her trip West this winter.
Physical education finds motion alone is
inadequate" said Mrs. King. Scientific
motion, music, and speech, all are EN-
bodied in these dances The original
drama. of course, was the ballad dance,
but 1t was without the accompaniment of
music, and descriptive song, or poem.
Motion here is accurately significant of
thought and feeling. The steps and music
synchronize with the song or story. and
blend into one perfect thought This is
the ideal dance"
The dancers themselves feel no re-
gtraint in their art. In their airy grace,
their feet scarce seemed to touch the
floor, and sweeping. swaying, swinging,
they sang as they danced.
These dances are novel, they are real
demonstrations of what America can do.
Nothing like this has ever been done
either here or abroad This is the only
troupe of ballet dancers anywhere In
existence said Doctor Mckenzie. who
Is fhe physical director of the University
of Pennsylvania. "AIrs. King has GfOund
something absolutely distinctive on which
to apply her art. This can never be
called an imitation of anything produced
before"
Mrs. Kings students are artistic anna
teurs. Dancing to them is the highest
form of living. They would rather dance
than anything they can conceive. They
dance for the love of 1t, for the enthu-
siasm is great and compelling As they
din and sway, plrouetts and bow, they
are following out the action OF the story
they portray, with the subtlest charm
and grace imaginable.
They danced the "Pas de trois." the
dance of three, dividing the action be-
tween them. In a riot of music and dane
ing, in exuberance and eNultsuon, the
theme was carried out. portraying the
loves of Pierrot, his confusion upon meet
ing two maidens at the same time, how
they dallied with him. hirted. and finally
how they left in one embrace
The pas de trois is the newest thing
in dancing The book from which 1t was
taken. Earth Deities.' by Bliss Carman
and Mary Perry King, is being released
by the publishers today and when shown
was a novelty of which none knew. Doc
tor Mckenzie and Mrs, King were unani-
nous In thinking this will revolution
ize all conventional-or unconventional
dances.
The first number was The Enchan-
tress." This was a pastoral dance show
ing the spirit OF the blossoms, with
faun in pursuit. Another dance, IAN
Idyl," showed the shepherd and his shep-
herdess and their love. The Shadow
Dance" a solo by Miss Carey. was
dance OF a nymph and her shadow,
Miss Dorothy Hoyle, a talented young
artistic, played the violin for the dancers.
She was accompanied by Miss Emelie
Hartford. the songstress, at the plano,