Evening star., 1920-01-13
DANCING MASTERS
/. TO BAN JAzzSTEPS
AND CLOSE HOLDS
Old Fashioned, Keep-Your-
Distance Dances Will Re-
turn if Efforts Count.

NEW YORK. January 13-Old-
fashioned. keepyour distance dances
are TO displsce the modern jazz steps.
If the nation wide reform movement
undertaken by the American National
Association of Masters of Dancing
proves successful. The dancing mas
ters. il is announced here. count upon
the support of mothers. fathers,
daughters. sons, dance hall pro-
prietors. dancing teachers and host
esses-and. if necessary. the police
nelson" body hold "shimmy lock"
and other imported ballroom grips
which are practiced by some dancers.
To Gust Offending Couples.
Cheap and vulgar music is also to
come under the ban. and. according
to a circular just issued by the as
sociation. those in charge of com
munity or public dances are urged
to show their opposition to unde-
sirable dances by distributing You
will please leave the hall cards to
those who persist in offending.
The women. it is charged, are often
as much to blame as their partners
and in some cases. dance hail pro-
prietors are advised to pick out ten
vi II
if a warning is disregarded. to oust
them at once.
You will soon Sec the circular
reads. that you have raised the
standard of your establishment ard
that the loss will be more than made
who have respect for you and your
dances"
Some Rules to Follow.
Of ha r1,Ia
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
dancing 1t Is useless to expect re-
fined dancing when the music lacks
all refinement. for. after all. what
is dancing but an Interpretation of
mrsic?
"The association has adopted the
following tempos. it being impossible.
the masters say. to regulate fast
dancing:
"waltz-4s measures to minute.
'"Two-step-54 measures to minute.
"One-step-66 measures to minute.
"Fox-trot-40 measures to minute.
Position Of Dancers
Dancers should assume a light.
graceful position" say the masters.
"There should be no jerky half 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 unpardonable. The gentle
mans arm should encircle his part
ner's waist, his hand resting lightly
Just above the waist line. The lady's
left arm should not encircle her
partners shoulders or neck.
Steps or movements that cannot be
controlled should not be taught. by
dancing teachers. Short side steps.
first right, then left. when done con-
tinuously, are not conducive to re-
fined dancing and should not be per-
mitted. 'Shimmy dancing a shaking
or jerking of the upper part OF the
body while taking short steps or
standing still, should not be toler-
ated.
Proper Dancing Step.
"The proper dancing step should be
the same as natural walking one,
except in exhibition dancing, which
properly belongs to 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. copy
ing the extremes used on the moaerh
stage is in bad taste.
'sRemember that the majority OF
dancers desire to dance according 10
the best accepted standards-that is.
without the slightest trace OF oHense
to dignity or decorum."