The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-24


those who witness it. II has been
my dream to perfect the dancing W
m,s,lf and uf my troupe to the extent
tina, music snou,d become only m
u,|tr. udtiou instead Of the dominating
factor have no doubt that this IL
possihic. for whenever THAI. of new
dances these dances suegcs; tunsli-
ties 20 me. am not a composer, so
| could not express in black dots the
mu.i. That is running through my
brain. but | can hear il. and so could
the audience, provided The pl stic art
rr tl" cancers could hc brought 10 "A
STAGE uf perfection.
81 ms, state without oSaggcration
that no ideal ballet music has ever
l,rY written. Th, dancer has been
cons icrrd ouly as IN Interpreter ana
has c'rss1r.ly been limited in her
efforts 'n the expression Of the COM
pr,,rs' IDEAS: bat just as a color may
AID does suggest a musical tCnality
So should - dance create in the brain
a musical picture. and | have often
wondered whether II would not he
advisable in the future to ask COM
rosers to write ballet music only under
,hr influence If a dancing spectacle.
when we speak OF music creating
certain pictures in the minds OF the
hearers we state but an uncontrover
t.blr fact. and il is but logical to sup
pose that dancing should call forth
q Melody in the brain Of those WHO
witness il. provided. in both cases. that
the respective art has reached "A high
mark.
We are all more or less slaves Of
habit and tradition. particularly so in
matters of art. The time was when a
drJma was not deemed possible with
oui musical accompaniment. and only
a short time ago. If | am not mistaken.
there was quite a protest because
some theatrical managers decided to
eliminate orchestral numbers between
the acts of a drama, No doubt should
] or somebody else decide upon pre-
sen'ine a ballet without the musical
accompaniment the idea would he
greeted with derision. But who can
DENY that IL would he an interesting
experiment. that Of making every man
and woman his or her own
and | am certain that II the dancers
possessed the necessary talent the en-
pertinent would be well worth while.
II may cite an experience of mine in
support OF my idea. Some time ago a
physician in Petrograd experimental
with musical sounds in treating ner-
,ous diseases and he found that a diff
ferent kind of music had n different
kind Of effect upon the nervous sys-
TEN Of the patients. At my sugges-
ton | danced before some of his pa
tients and the result was the same as
II they were listening to music. For
instance, in listening to martial music
their muscles became taut. and strange
a. II may seem when I tried to express
in my dancing the martial spirit the
effect upon them was identical.
ut was then n there that I be-
came persuaded that dancing creates
music in the human mind. and all
though | admit that in every case the
patients watching me seemed to hear
q certain kind Of music: In some in
stances they even tried to hum il.
Il am planning to try the expert
ment Of a ballet without music In New
York. OF course II would have TO be
before an invited audience. for The
innovation would be too radical to o.
tract the large Masses: besides I 90
no; believe anybody would he willing
TO pay for a performance OF that kind,
and | wish some scientist would come
forward and explain my ideas In a
precise I'D concise form. for I confess
that while have faith in my theory,
] do no feel myself equal to the task
Of putting it in a way that would make .
II clear and Understandable"