The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-01-13
KEEP-YOUR-DISTANCE
DANCES TO CONE IN
Will Replace the Old Jazz Steps If the
Nation Wide Reform Movement of
American National Association
Proves To Be Successful

| Old fashioned, keep your distance
dances are to displace the modern jazz
steps, il. the nation wide reform move
ment undertaken by the American Ma.
tional Association of Masters of Dane
| ing proves successful The dancing
masters, it is announced here, count
upon the support of mothers, fathers
daughters, sons, dance hall proprietors
dancing teachers and hostesses --and, II
necessary, the police departments
exterminate the ''half Nelson body
hold" "shimmy lock" and other i'm
ported ballroom grips which are prae-
ticed by some dancers. Cheap and yul-
gar music is also to come under the
ban and, according to circular just
issued by the association, those in
charge Of community or public dances
are urged to show their opposition to
undesirable 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 hall proprietors
are advised to pick out ten or dozen
Objectionable couples and, if warning
is disregarded, to GUST them at once
sYou viii 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 by
double the number of persons who 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 invites
cheap, vulgar, meaningless dancing. II
is useless to expect refined dancing
when the music lacks all refinement,
for after all, what is dancing but an in
depreciation Of musieg
.fThe association has adopted the fol-
lowing tempos, it being impossible, the
masters say, to regulate fast dancing:
waltz, AZ measures to minute.
1.-TWO step, "a measures to minute.
One step, GO measures to minute.
"Fox trot. 40 measures to minute
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
The gentleman's arm
should encircle his partners 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
are not conducive to refined
dancing and should not ePermitted.
'Shimmy dancing. shaking or jerking |
of the upper part of the body while
taking short steps or standing stu,
should not be tolerated.
"The proper dancing step should be
the same as natural walking one ex-
cept in exhibition dancing, which prop |
ariy belongs to the stage, not the ball
room. Exceptionally long or short
steps are not in good form.
s'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
TO the best accepted stand
ards, that is, without the slightest trace
If offense to dignity or decorum.