Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-30

Washington. Dec. 27.-Not long ago
a program Of various types OF classic
Greek art was being planned in one OF
our cities. and local Greek talent was
hunted out to play the parts. creeks
musical numbers were not hard to flnu
who could perform in dramatic ant
But then came the question of dane
ing.
There was to be q dance given in the
classic manner by real Greek maldens.
who might be the direct descendants OF
the b%acchantes and ceremonial dancers
of old Athens. and the producers set
out ingenuously to collect the Greek
dancers of the city. They returned
STEPPED in gloom. There were no Greek
maidens who could do the ancient
dances. So the Greek dance had to be
left to young Americans with names
reminiscent of ancestors from Eng
land, Wales, France, Denmark and
Germany.
This incident has attracted attention
to the fact that the recent enthusiasm
for Greek dancing has scarcely touched
Greece. The classic manner of dancing
has been adopted of late years by dane
ers OF America and almost every coun-
try of Europe. But no outstanding ex-
W IA = a toAlt " tAS
original home of the classic dance.
A Greek was asked why the girls Of
his country have not been swept along
in the revival of their celebrated art.
1t is not easy to say" he answered.
Il believe the young girls in the schools
have felt that the Greek dancers--they
Wear--you know they wear not so
much c~lothing-and the girls have not
WI GbnI m xrnnr }hn olJ .nu4,rpnc Rt,t
that is not, perhaps, so true now he
added. Il know Isadora Duncan had
some Greek pupils when she was in my
country. and there are no doubt a few
girls there who are interested in the
classic dance
This modern Greek mar conveyed
the impression. however that the mod
ern Greek maiden would still be a
bit shocked to think of herself in the
garb of her ancestors. Visions of stat
ues wearing a thin layer of drapery,
and that none too securely arranged,
seemed to flash before the eyes Of the
very completely dressed young Greek
of the drawing room.
Isadora Duncan's latest appearances
in flowing and disappearing drapery
would seem to support this young
mans idea that inadequate costumes
are i necessary part of the classic
dance. Miss Duncan is one Of the
leaders in the revival of classic dancing
and her example has far-reaching re-
suits among other naturalistic dancers.
But some dancers of the classic
school boldly disagree with Miss Dun
cans point of view. They explain that
while the ancient Greeks danced in
filmy garments or even in no garments
at all. no one was shocked by their ap-
pearauce. The minds of the people
were adjusted to a different set of
conventions from those obtaining to-
day. Perfection of the human body
was as casually admired then as a
beautiful face is now.
Costume Versus Custom.
These dancers say that while the
sense of freedom gained from wearing
light drapery is desirable in dancing.
some concessions should be made TO
custom. Too abbreviated or diaphan-
Gus d costume, even if worn with the
most artistic of intentions. gains the
interest of the modern audience at the
expense of the dance itself. Instead of
costume. dancer. setting. music. and
steps blending tremendously, the cloth
ing of the performer becomes a dis