South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-01-16
WILL RESTORE
OLD TIME DANCE
Master Dancers Association
Undertakes Reform of
Modern Dancing.

NEW YORK. Jan 15-Oid fash
toned. keey -your-distsnce dances
are to displace the modern Jazz
steps, II the nation wide reform
movement undertaken by the Amer
ica1 National Association OF Mast
srs OF Dancing proves successful.
The dancing masters it Is announc-
ed here. count upon the support Of
mothers. fathers daughters, sons
dance hall proprietcrs. dancing
teachers and hostesses-and If nee
essary the police Department.
exterminate the half Nelson" body
hold, 'shimmy lock" and other lm-
ported ballroom grips which. are
practiced b. some dancers Cheap
and vulgar music Is also 90 come un-
der the ban and. according TO "a cir
cular just issued by the association,
those in charge Of community or
public dances are urged TO show
their opposition 20 undesirable dan
ces by distributing You viii please
leave the hall" cards 20 those who
persist i'm offending
Women 20 Blame.
The women. il Is charged are often
IS much TO blame as their partners
and. in some cases, dance han pro-
prietors are advised 10 pick out ten
or a dozen objectable couples and.
II a warning is disregarded, to GUST
them At once
You will soon see, the circular
reads. that YOU have raised the
standard Of your establishment and
that the loss will be more than made
mp by double the number OF persons
who have respect FOR you and your
dances"
Some Of the rules are regulations
which all are urged TO obey follow:
Dance music should be bright
and cheerful. properly accented and
the phrases we'll divided. Cheap.
vulgar music of the extreme Jazz
type invites cheap. vulgar meaning
less dancing II is useless 10 expect
refined dancing when the music
lacks all refinement. for. after ALL
what is dancing but an interpreta-
ton OF music?
heEuialG lenlllo-
THE Association hast adopted the
following tempos, il being impossible
the masters say, to regulate fast
dancing:
Waltz .....4S measures TO minute.
"Two-step .54 measures to minute.
"One-step sc measures to minute.
Fox TrOt 40 measures to minute.
Dancers should assume "a light.
graceful position" says the masters.
There should be no jerlly half-steps
FOR these cause undesirable varia-
tons Partners should not dance
with cheeks close or touching nor
should the slasp he tight. Neck
holds are positively objectionable
The gentleman's arm should encir-
Gle his partners waist his hand
resting lightly just above the waist
line. The lady's left arm should not
cncircle her partners shoulders orr
neck
bar Shimmy.
steps or movements that cannot
be controlled should not be taught
by dancing teachers. Short side steps
nrst right then left. when done
continuously. are not conducive to-
refined dancing and should not De
permitted. 'Shimmy dancing a shak-
ing or Jerking or the upper part of
The body while taking short steps
or standing still, should not be tot
Grated.
''Fhe proper dancing step should
be the same as a natural walking
one except I'm 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 mp
Copying Of the extremes used on the
modern stage Is I'm bad taste Re
member that the majority of dane
crs desire 20 dance according 20 tho
best accepted standards that is
without the slightest trace of Of