Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-09
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European countries Aragonalse "Jotas'
are but weakly reproduced In Seville
Tbe Andalusian fandango undergoes a
curious metamorrhosis In Saragossa
Estremadura. Galicia. Asturias. Viz
caya, Navarro. Old and New CASTLE. La
Mancha. Murcla. Valencia, Catalonia
Andalusia and Aragon are disparate
kingdoms in Terpsichore's empire.
The difficulties, then, of transplanting
the most fascinating of all phases of
the art Of dancing beyond the Iberian
Peninsula have for years been formi-
dable. Pltiful limitations have there
fore fiourished. Real Spanish dancing.
as Vullier In his history of the product
describes .it-"all futter and glitter,
grace and animation. quiverlng, sono-
rous, passionate, seductive"--has been
largely a legend save to travellers.
And even the inquiring voyager has
often experienced difficulty In unearthing
the alluring, rhythmic symbols of Spain.
Dancing from the American commercial
viewpoint is badly organized In It's habi-
tat. In the ante -Bolshevik day II was
easy enough TO see the Russian ballet.
The sole requisite was a ticket to the
imperial Opera House. Dancing in Rus
STA Is highly cultivated art. In Spain
1t Is the thrilling expression OF national
instincts and SO impregnated in the life
of the people that its pervasive yet
subtle presence Is taken almost as Il
matter of course.
No company Of royal Spanish dancers
officially dom'ciled In a Madrid or Bar
celona theatre exists. Instead miracles
OF grace. passion and dramatic fervor
are to be found by the fortunate in tiny
music halls in the Castilian capitals
by-streets and best Of all in that ven
cradle Sevillian establishment mscalled
"Novedades." on an obscured corner OF
the Andalusian city'9 storied "Sierpes.
Patronage of the one-act musical
comedies prevalent throughout the coun-
try also occasionally insures a glimpse
of terpsichorean beauty. Forias or fes-
tivals in Valencia. Malaga and else
where are often productive Of superb
dancing. There are no booking routes
for such exhibits
DCT now. not merely from press
- agents, but from highly competent
courts of appraisement. comes the no
less gratifying than amazing news that
the bloom OF Spanish dancing has not
faded in sea voyage. THE Land OF
joy" ia TERRA dc Alegria), which will
be disclosed at the Forrest Theatre on
Monday night, is authortatively her
aided as bona-flde presentation of a
wondrous art. Malagucnas will be
danced by Malaga senortas, "Jotas" by
Aragonese damsels, fandangoes by
vertable ladies of Cadiz."
The inspiration of the distinguished
Spanish composer, Quinito-short for
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. is responsible for
the dashing score of this offering. which
is In character a kind of three-act gar
zuela," with welcome emphasis laid on
the dancing features.
The production modestly tiptoed into
New York some months ago and in n
few days Broadway realized that much
of our own musical comedy was soporlflc
and that limitations of 4berian dancing
Will hereafter be as intolerable as those
of Harry Lauder. Strands of an up
to-date" American libretto were family
interjected. But, considering the prime
features OF the spectacle. that penalty
should be comparatively light. Accepta-
tion of 1t Is a low price to pay for a
of what Spain so tenaciously
prizes and what Havelock Ellis feared
would fade in the mere passage of a
provincial frontier. II. r. G.