The Washington times., 1921-06-02

cert music In creditable manner.
The first class dance musician must
be very versatile and often doubles
on three or four different instru-
| mentA
He must have remarkable
| memory. and as matter of fact
often has 200 or 800 popular dance
numbers memorized and is constantly
adding new ones.
He must be able to extemporize a
new number, that is TO say, fake n
/ and there is no particular part for
mis- instrument
He must have fne physique and
| stamina in order to stand all night
parties night after night during the
season.
cannot see but that prohibition
has helped modern dancing and the
dance orchestra. II seems that music
has taken the place OF wine.
Many cabsrets throughout the coun-
try have eliminated performers en-
tirely and are now featuring high
class dance orchestras only, which
think has met with great success as a
general rule.
Orchestras with name and reputa-
tion now augment their earnings con-
piNNhobiC Wy Aho Ol
Graph records, which usually pay
S2o to $50 per session. amounting to
two records or a 'double-faced record.
Dance orchestrss do not receive roy
olties with one exception. that of Ted
Lewis Jazz Band. now making rec
ords for Columbia, II Is the only
dance orchestra in the business which
receives royalty.
The frst-class orchestra will make
from two 10 four. selections per
month for a record company.
PRESIDENT AND PRINCE.
II was my very great honor and
pleasure TO have one OF my orches-
tras play for President Harding on
his trip to Panama last November
and Panama is one OF the few places
where the real fox trot, tango and
waltz are in vogue and are beauti-
fully danced. There were numerous
dances given on board ship both go
ing and returning. and the dancing at
these parties made our work real
pleasure.
The Prince OF Wales. believe,
learned to first 'toddle," as the fox
trot is now commonly called. to the
music of my orchestra in Washington
and White sulphur Springs. When
ne arrived in Washington there were
several parties given for him. as Is
we'll known, by Mrs. Joseph Letter.
Mrs. Frederick II. Gillette. the wife
of the Speaker of the House, and a
large ball at the British embassy, at
all of which my orchestra played.
The prince liked our rhythm so
much that he requested us to accom-
psny him TO White Sulphur Springs,
which, of course, we were delighted
to do. The prince Is now an accom-
plished fox trotter. and / see he has
finally succeeded in introducing some
ham Palace with Queer Msrys con-
sent.
The future of dance music Is for
better things. Slapstick effects are
already on the wans. The demand is
more for quality than for noise today.
And the quality OF modern dance
music is only limited by the taste of
patrons.
The fox trot at present has greatly
overshadowed all other dances in pop
ularity. l might say that at dance
today the percentage OF fox trots
played to waltzes and one-steps Is
about ten to one.
The cotiIiion OF other days, the
friendly square dance, only exists
today In occasional use OF the Paul
Jones'" That's is a social matter, for
where formerly dances were only en-
joyed In groups where everyone was
acquainted, today public dancing is
so generally the rule that the larger
Rroupe practiraIiy do not exist