Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-12


amusement. There Is every indica-
ton that the new craze. which already
Is countrywide In extent. will be taken
up by people OF all ages. and in all
walks OF life, with the same enthusiasm
that has converted men. women and
children into fox-trotters and tango.ex-
perts during the past three or four sea.
sons.
Skating on Ice Is considerably more
difficult for adults TO learn than dancing
Dancing on the ice Is a feat which only
expert skaters dare TO tackle. Never
theless, the difficulties OF the new fad
seem to have had little effect on it's
popularity, and the Kinks throughout the
country are now crowded morning, noon
aud night with debutantes and society
matrons who are determined to become
expert skaters and ice.dancers in the
shortest possible time.
The dances which expert skaters are
able to execute on the Ice include the
old-fashloned waltz, the ten.step, another
form Of waltz, the foxtrot and various
notifications OF the other dances which
have become popular in recent seasons.
diincult to perform. the accomplishment
follows easily enough after the funda.
mental figures OF tigure-skating have
been acquired. good f1gure-skater can
learn new figures with as much facility
as dancer learns new steps The main
thing that Is necessary is to become
adept at ordinary fgure.skating Dane.
Ing on Ice VIII then follow easily enough,
although. OF course, 1t will require a good
deal OF practise.
The foundation OF all fgure.ska,ing is
the ability to use the four edges OF the
skates-the inside left, the outside left,
the inside right and the outside right
and 10 be able TO skate backward on
either OF these edges just as readily as
forward Daily practise on these funda-
nentals is essential to progress III ice
dancing
The fact that the new amusement has
already taken a firm hold is evidenced
In many ways -Four OF New York's
most fashionable hotels have already
planned icer!nks FOR the use OF their
patrons. The Biltmore is the first 10
open It's rink TO the public The Wal
dorf Is said to be investing in the
neighborhood OF million dollars in a
rink on the roof OF It's new annex. The
Hotel Astor and the McAlpin are now
arranging similar facilities. Some OF the
restaurants and cabarets which have
hitherto made their dancing iioors their
principal attraction are preparing to sub.
stitute Ice for hardwood SO that those
who have danced may hereafter skate
instead.
Most significant OF all. perhaps. is the
thorough manner In which New York,
Boston and Chicago society has taken
the lead III adopting the new fad In
New York, club was formed several
weeks ago b. enthusiasts and its mem.
bership includes most OF the debutantes
Of the season, the girls who are to come
out next year and some young married
people. Among subscribers to the club
are Mrs. John Jacob Aston, Mr.. and Mrs.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Mr. and Mrs. Ed.
win Gould Mr.. and Mrs. Irving Brokaw
and host OF others whose names are
very well known In the most exclusive
social circles.
This club has engaged the ST Nicholas
Skating Rink for Monday afternoons for
the entire season. which lasts until the
end Of April Professional skaters and
instructors have been engaged to in
struct the members In the intricacies OF
ice-dancing.
In Boston. expert skaters have been
engaged by the Boston Skating Club. an
exclusive organization, to teach society
the new fad. Mr. and Mrs. a. Windsor
Wills. Miss Eleanora Sears and Miss
Edith Rotch are perhaps the most promi-
nent Of Back Bay fashionables who are
leading the movement in New England.
In Chicago. the Sherman House some
time ago anticipated the present craze
and installed a skating-rink in the Col
lege Inn, in the basement, in place Of the
dancing floor. 1t was foreseen that dane
Ing was losing It's hold and that ice.skat-
Ing was going to take It's place. The
change has met with great success
That the general public Ia going to
follow society's lead and make skating
the principal diversion this Winter is in
dictated plainly by the unusually large
number Of people who have already
taken up the sport at the Kinks.
At st. Nicholas Rink. for instance, rec
cord crowds have been in attendance at
every session since the opening of the
season on November I. This rink ac-
commodities 500 people on the ice at a
time and there are three sessions day.
Men and women Of all ages are clamor-
ing for instruction or for a chance to
practise and perfect themselves in the
new skating-dances
The same situation prevails at the
other Kinks throughout the country.
There are two large Kinks on the Coast.
one at Seattle and the other at Portland.
Both are doing record business and
similar enthusiasm Is evident in Detroit.
Cleveland. PITTSBURGH and Chicago.
The new amusement will not score ire
greatest triumph, perhaps, until freez.
ing weather arrives. when the limited
capacity Of the indoor Kinks will be
augmented by the unlimited facilities