Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-13
.FOX-TROT HERE TO
. STAY, SAYS DANCER
That and One-Step to Form
Basis for Future
Dances.
OBLIVION FOR THE JAZZ
Declares New Steps Will Be
Founded Upon Method
of Walking.
by MISS MARGARET Monu,s,

LONDON. April Io.-WiII tho mod.
.crn form Of ballroom dancing survive
the test of time?
stoned no little CONTROVERSY. hut in
one important aspect the argument
mas been somewhat misleading. The
TO be embraced by the single expres-
sive word Jazz" whereas that word
means only simple subsidiary move
from tho movements Of the fox trot
or the one-stcp.
IT Is wrong. therefore. in discussing
IN" ballroom of the future to talk
about the possibility OF the perma
nent triumph of tic jazz over .hc
waliz-wronE both from tho poiSt of
vic" Oh IN" Jazz and the waltz.
Oblivion for Jazz.
In my opinion the jazz will ioin the
waltz in oblivion.
differ entirely from the contention
that the waltz will ever return to
favor ] refrain from using the word
popularity. for tho reason that | have
never considered II popular form Of
dancing And to those readers who
arc not In agreement with this view
would simply. point out that when
the waltz was in vogue the ballroom
did not attract men and women OF the
found there today.
The standard dances of the future
will be based upon the fox-trot and
the onc-step.
1t is quite possible that those dances
might lose their name. but their iden-
tity VIII never entirely vanish be-
cause they have natural movements as
walking idea. they enable people to
express their characters in their per
lormance, SO that apa7 from their
sonality in manner in which the
old-fashioned meaningless and mo-
notonous waltz was never able TO
am quite aware that some people
in their Interpretation Of these move
m n give very ugly performances.
ness than TO hypocriticaliy conceal il
in expressionlcss Gyrations.
II dancing is to be considered an
preston of the life of the dancer. and
great or insignificant according to
the dancers impressions and ability
No doubt each season will see the
Introduction Of new movements. but
the dominating idea OF the present
style Will retain its permanency
The simple walking movement has
ensured that permanency. and. shorn
Of all the dips. and hops. which will
n,e n asa'n , Or give rass TO
less license it Will ensure for the
ballroom a lasting popularity quito
equal TO the, present standard
The chief argument of critics OF the
present craze" as they call il. is that
jazz. in which they mistakenly com
prehe1d everything that is modern is
destructive of the sociability Of the
ballroom There is no greater failacy.
The foX-trot and the one-step in
their view. can only be danced by
partners who know each others steps.
and so universally of ballroom
partnership has given place TO the
same couples dancing together all the
evening.
The idea is erroneous. Just as two
walters who are strangers to each
others steps can waltz together, so
can 'foN-trotters and one-s;eppers.
Not Due to Dances.
II has. | am quite aware, become
customary for couples to dance more
or less together through the evening,
but this has nothing whatever TO do
with the change in the style of dancing.
IL is due entirely to a change in
was not considered good form for Il
couple TO dance more than two dances
together during the evening, hut now
n a couple prefer each others society
they are breaking no canon of etiquette
II they dance together the whole even
ing.
Whether the revolution in etiquette
and the removal of restraint to such
an extent that gloves are no longer
worn in bathrooms are improvements
upon prc-war days, will not venture
an opinion, but the fact remains that
these, changes have become cstab-
lished.