The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1919-04-23
DANCING CRAZE
ENCULES PARIS
Comes Back With Greater zest
Than Ever Before.
AMERICAN STEPS the RAGE

Rage and Jazz Bands Are Popular.
Once more the dance, the modern
ballroom variety, has come into it's
own In Paris. Four years of suppress
sion due to the war have brought if
oack In blaze Of glory and with
greater Zest and more adher>nts than
ever before in it's Partisan history.
Within the last few weeks salons have
literally sprung up all over Paris, in
every kind Of neighborhood, and thou
sands of Parisians, young and old, Of
both sexes, are taking lessons in order
TO regain the degree Of efficiency they
fAad attained before the war.
This time the modern American
dances, the fox trot and the one-sten
are receiving the greatest attention.
The comparatively few teachers in
Paris who are familiar with these
dances are worked overtime from one
weeks end to the other. Among these
teachers there are said to be several
French poilus who, as members of mis-
sions, visited the United States dur
Ing the war and there acquired q
knowledge OF the American dances.
In the very exclusive set of Paris a
certain wellknown dancer is reported
to be reaping harvest. He teaches
stately French danes with mature
daughters and very young girls Who
have not yet been introduced to So
ciety. For such lessons he is said to
receive 25O francs, or $50.
Teach American Dances.
One of the largest revues now show.
ting in Paris has announced the in
eiusion Of a special dancing act in
which American dances will be taught
from the stage by an American couple
both well-knOwn dancers in New York.
On the famous Boulevard des Champs
Elysees two salons have been opened
and on several nights in the week one
icabs drawn up in front of these es-
adjustments waiting to carry home the
Partisan business man, his wife and
daughter who have been spending the
evening in learning to dance.
and as in everything else which has
to do with pleasure, the. French people
have entered into the spirit of the
dance with all the joyousness Of youth
and are having great fun in learning
the American steps. -Four years was
long time to abstain from dancing.
but the French faithfully observed the
rule against dancing in wartime. Now
that Germany has been defeated and
the signing Of peace not far distant
they feel they are justified in resum-
ing dancing.
London danced during the war Ito
forget the war" Paris now dances in
al attempt to realize peace. IN fact,
all Europe Is now dancing; dancing
all the foolish, crazy steps which can
be conceived, as If in a strenuous ef-
fort to make up for the pleasure lost
during the world struggle.
To give an idea of the wealth of
color and decoration with which the
Partisan salons are surrounded. it
might be interesting to look in on one
place which Is proving popular. It
Is typical in its atmosphere of the spir-
it Of the moment. A French poilu,
not yet demobilized, IS its director.
and he has indeed evolved an unique
temple Of dancing.
The motif OF the salon is Chinese,
I suppose. That strange deep Chi
nese yellow serves as coloring for the
walls, with futurist apple blossoms
painted on them. The woodwork is
dull, heavy black. nothing more. Long
black curtains, striped with yellow rib
bon, hang from the windows. There
are inner curtains Of gold silk. A mu-
sician's alcove is hid by gold tissue
curtains.
Jazz Bands Al the Rage.
I" The whole room rather intoxicates
one and many conservative soul
would not care to dance there. But
it is modern and more or less accurate
ly reflects the mood in which Parisi.
ans are resuming the dance. The sa-
Ion actually shrieks jazz, and jazs
dancing,-with all It implies. Is Ger
tainly the vogue in Paris.
And speaking of jazz it is interest
ing to note that no music hall, revue
or vaudeville show is quite complete
in Paris unless it boasts In large let
tiers complete American Jazz Band"
These Jazz bands-no one knows where
they came from-really make our
American variety seem a conservative,
tame affair. AS one American officer
remarked in my hearing at one Of the
Paris revues the other night. ''These
Paris Jazz bands arc the jazziest things
I ever heard. and I've lived IN New
York all my life"
But to get back 70 the dance. New
York better step lively if she does not
wish Paris to snatch away her 'anrels
as the temple Of modern dancing. BY
summer. judging from the present rate
of speed. there should be few able
bodied Parisians who do not know at
least the one-step and fox trot. After
these are mastered-and might add
that some difficulty is being expert.
enced in acquiring the American steps
no doubt Parisians win not be salts
fed, but will invent some new form OF