The New York herald., 1922-08-27

~ ESPITE the fact that social &C
tivities have moved from Pnri
to the fashionable waterin
places along the French coasts. ant
while most establishments where on,
may and distraction In this city ar
closed for annual vacations. the Graz
for dancing ia as acute to-day as ever.
Dancing schools are as crowded to
day as they were at the end OF 1911
and beginning OF 1919. when probabl,
because of the relaxation from war wor
ries the whole country appeared to hav,
gone dancing mad. While many dane
| ing halls dave closed probably afte
their owners had made fortunes, other.
have had to enlarge their floor space
to accommodate latest adopts to the ar
| OF Terpsicilore.
In view of this renewed enthusia SIN
however. but feeble attempts are being
made to introduce new dances. Ole
timers and beginners still favor the
postwar steps as eXemplified in the
tango. fox trot. one step, two step and
TO certain extent the shirnmy. The
only dance that has gained in favor il
the waltz. Any attempt to either ere.
ate new dances or Introduce imported
ones from South America or Spain has
been nipped n the bud.
Dancing fa..- would sooner see a re-
vival of the da..-as Of the time OF their
grandfathers, such as the traditional
three step polka, the mazurlta, the ga
Vote and even the berline, when couples
holding each others hands ever so light
ly gayly tripped. one couple behind an
other, like soldiers marching in twos,
nj q a n Cra ftt11 -,
each other every three or four steps.
Alone of the most modern dances the
shimmy Is losing favor. Dancing mas
ters. however, in an attempt to instill
new life into 1t suggest certain changes
in it. They are trying hard to effec,
certain alterations in the "shaky' part
of the shimmy, firstly by playing slower
music and secondly by introducing new
steps which would virtually make the
shake impossible. Dancers and spec
tators are to-day Of the opinion that the
shimmy Is by far too, disgraceful and
altogether too suggestive.
Face to Face Dancing Taboo.
In order also to bring dancing down
to a more modest level attempts are to
be made this winter to introduce differ
ent holding attitudes. Face to face
uanClIB Is 10 De IODOOeu. Inc new
methods to be tried call for the man to
hold the ladys left hand lightly and
almost at arms length and with his own
left hand to hold the lady at her waist
very lightly. Since the war the custom
has been to hold the lady tightly under
the arm or even on the hip, and this to-
day Is considered more or less vulgar.
TIE music is also expected to undergo
certain changes. Jazz bands are no
longer wanted and slower music is to be
tried. In the hope that henceforth all
couples will dance the same steps. The
practice has been till now for couples
to dance their own steps most of the
time or else revive the old dances with
modern music. Thus when the music
strikes up one-step many couples are
seen to launch out on the old time polka.
The result has usually been that all
ends in collisions and confusion.
So far but two new dances are ex-
pected to be tried during the coming
winter. They are partly reyivals OF old
time country dances, with certain steps
modified by Prof. Laffitte, one OF the
directors OF the French Union of Dane
ing Masters. These dances. however. are
more likely to be a success at private
balls. A certain amount. OF floor space
Is needed by each couple, and then again
there Is that dislike among French fans
for anything new.
The reception accorded the passetto
when first introduced here is a striking
example OF this. Taken to kindly at
first. the dance soon fell in disfavor
partly because It was considered too
complicated. inasmuch as the French
looked upon It as fast sort of tango
with many resemblances to the ancient
- -
Among other dances which met sim
liar fate is the Java, bordering. 1t was
thought, too much on the mazurka and
rebuked as ft only for the low class
cabaret dansant."
The idea or dancing with hands on
the hips or else in the pockets never
appealed TO the better class OF dancers.
The Creolian polka was another which
was barred Just as soon as the steps
became known. 1t hinges on the old
polka with the Introduction Of certain
steps OF the fox trot, making a weird
and complicated accompaniment
The New Dances Favored.
Tho new dances which M. Laffitte is
now teaching are lie Pas Landais" and
la Polonaise Parisienne." They may
be very good muscular exercises, but
certainly they are not graceful. The
cavalier has to show unlimited polite
ness to his partner, and possibly for this
reason and In view Of the demand for
more decent dances both may be a
success Every pupil In M. Laffittes
school, and they are numerous, Ia learn
ing both OF the professors creations.
Music for these dances has not as
yet been written and beginners are
taught the various steps to the accom-
paniment of slow one step tune. Tho
Pas Polonaise starts with what looks
like n game OF hopscotch played by
two persons instead OF one. The couple
Join their right hands and, after bowling
to each other and holding hands above
heads, gently swing first on the righ,
foot and then on tho left. At certain
moment, when the music changes, they
vault over to change positions.
One or the most peculiar hgures in
this dance IL that known as the "con1
fcsslon step" II represents the couple
standing still after two or three waltz
ing movements, the man gazing inquir.
ingly into his partners eyes and visibly
trying TO read her mind. Another stey
known as the "Matador's step show,
the couple halting before starting off or
n long. gliding movement which viii
bring them back into a one-step actor
to be followed soon after by a walt,
and ending with the tango "cornei
step
'Le Pas Landais." as It's title indi
Gates halls from the Landes provinces
| of France. II has little Spanish eie
ment In It's movements. Here again
the desire for gallantry and politenes
i hA - a..