Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-01-24
OLD DANCES TO RETURN.
Dancing Masters Seek to Eliminate
"sbimny" and Kindred Dances.

"Shimmy" and kindred Ianoes'
New York. Jan. 2l--Olr-tashlone"
keep-your- distance dances, are 10 ols-
Mace the modern jazz steps, II the ma
ton wide reform movement Enuer'aN-
On by the American National Assocla-
tion of Masters of Dancing proves sue
cessful. The dancing masters, IL Is
announced here, count upon the sup
mort OF mothers. fathers, daughters
sons. dance hall proprietors, dancing
teachers and hostesscs-and II neces-
sarv the police department-to eNtef.
inmate the half Nelson 'ooaE hoi"'
Skinny lock- and other importer
ballroom grips which are practleeu
by some dancers.
Cheap and vulgar music Is also 10
come under the ban and according 10
circular Just issued by the assocla-
tion. those In charge of community or
nubllc dances are urged to show their
oppositton to undesirable dances oy
distributing you will please leave the
hall" cards to those who persist IN or
Tending. ,
The women. it is charged, are often
as much to blame as their partners
and, IN SOIllS NStSSS' N'NA'NN ~-
pristors are advised to pick out ten
or a dozen objectionable couples anu
if a warning is disregarded, to GUST
them at once.
"You will soon see" the circular
reads, that you have raised the stand
ard of your establishment and that the
loss will be more than made up ny
double the number Of persons VINO
have respect for you and your dances
Some of the rules and regulations
which all are urged to obey follow:
"Dance music should be bright and
cheerful, properly accented and the
phrases well divided. Cheap, vulgar
music of the extreme Jazz type IN
vites cheap, vulgar meaningless oahc-
ing. It is useless to expect reLlhee
dancing when the music LACKS all re-
finement, for, after all. what is dane
ing but an Interpretation Of music:
THE association has adopted the
following tempos, it being Impossible,
the masters say, to regulate fast dane
ing.
"waltz-Forty- eight measures to
minute.
"Two-step-F4fty -four measures to
minute.
"Oue- step-sixty- six measures to
minute.
FOX trot--Forty measures to min
ute"
Dancers should assume a light
graceful position" say the masters.
! There should be no jerky halt-steps
| for these cause undesirable variations.
Partners should not dance with cheeks
close or touching nor should the clasp
be tight. Neck holds are positively
objectionable. The gentleman's arm
should encircle his partners waist MS
hand resting lightly just above the
waist line The Ia dy's left arm should
not encircle her partners shoulders or
! neck.
| steps or movements that can not De
controlled should not be taught by
dancing teachers. Short side steps.
first right, then left, when done con-
ttnuously. are not conductive TO refined
dancing and should not be permitted.
'Shirrny dancing shaking or jerk
Ing Of the upper part OF the body while
taking short steps or standing shii'
! should not be tolerated.
| The proper dancing step should De
| the same as a natural walking one ex-
cept in exhibition dancing, which
properly belongs 70 the stage, not the
ballroom. Exceptionally long or short
steps are not in good form.
| Dancing should be from the waist
down, not from the waist up. Copying
| Of the extremes used on the modern
stage is in bad taste. Remember that
the majority of dancers desire to dance
according to the best accepted stand
ards that Is. without the slightest
tract Of offense to dignity or decorum."