Great Falls tribune., 1922-04-19

Washington, April 3.-Is American
ballet to be the next development in
the art of the dance? Paul Tcherni-
koff, former dancer with Pavlowa and
now ballet master Of the Washington
Opera company, says that the most
promising progress in the art Of ballet
is being made in this country.
France, Italy and Russia have had
their turns at being the center Of the
dancing stage, Mr.. Tchernikoff points
out. It was in France that the ballet
was fixed into its conventional form
almost four centuries ago, when Louis
some years this king and the more
supple members Of his court took part
in elaborate ballets presented at Yer
sailles, and finally this dancing mon
arch established a Royal Academy Of
the Dance to promote his favorite art.
Dancers still decribe their steps by
the terms fixed about this time. Given
list Of such terms as elise, assemble,
ronde de jambe, arabesque, reverence,
ballet dancers in different countries
would build practically the same dance.
Dramas done in pantomime and
dance. performed according to the
French standard Of what should be
good and bad form In ballet, gained
popularity throughout Europe, and it
was not until few decades ago that
the art was very much changed.
This time Russia was the innovator.
Russian dancers took the conventional
technique of the French ballet for a
basis and began to do radical and beau
tiful things, They went out of the
Russian schools and astonished their
audiences with great variety in what
was supposed to be q restricted form
of the dance.
The Russian influence has been so
strong that we have almost forgotten
that billowy tarletan skirt was once
most any kind of dance-Indian, Greek,
Oriental, Gypsy, pastorale-is material
for the modern ballet dancer.
The traditions Of the ballet are not
lost, however. There is a difference,
for example, between the Greek dance
which an inspirational dancer might
create and the Greek dance of bal
lerina. She builds her Interpretation
on foundation of technique-positions
Of feet and hands which have been
found beautiful. The rhythmic, or ma
ture dancer finds such a foundation
hampering to the freedom of the dance.
Her work is less restrained, but ballet
devotees hold that it is apt to be less
artistic. since the dancers emotions
and ecstasy may not always lead her
to take the most pleasing poses.
The Ballet RusslanIzed
Russia broadened the horizon Of the
ballet. But now it almost seems as
If Russia. as a country, is beginning
to peter out IN its dance offerings, due
partly at least to unsettled Russian
affairs. The well known Russian dane
ers are scattered. We arestold that
Mordkin is conducting a ballet in Mos
COW under the protection of the gov
ernment there, but very little is heard
of his work. Nijinsky remains an un-
certain quantity. One report has it
that he is dead while another says that
he has recovered from his attack Of
insanity and is now conducting a ballet
school in Switzerland.
Other members of the Russian ballet
arc. in this country, dancing, producing
and teaching. Still others are working
abroad in cubst like productions, which
are attracting attention as a novelty.
Straight lines are a feature of these
ballets. Stiffness of costume is
achieved by such devices as padding
the shoulders with wood. Heads Of
wood built up In cubist like squares
are sometimes worn. The effect is
heightened by geometric riots Of color
for costumes and settings. Music is of
the futuristie type-at it's best rem
eniscent of Debussy trifle off key; at
its worst a capable imitation of the
baby maltreating the old family piano.
In this futuristic atmosphere the dane
ers create bizarre compositions. 1t is
the latest phase of the Russian ballet.
Mr.. Tchernikoff believes that it is a
step to the side rather than an ad-
vance.
America now has a chance to be
the center of the stage, SO far as bal
let is concerned" Mr.. Tchernikoff ex-
plains. THAT so many of the Russians