Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-02-03

to nation, but the dancer is natu'
rally most interested in his own me-
dunn of expression. Dancing, he says
Is the newest Of the arts-to be
recognized as such. Yet it is the
highest form of expression. He eX-
plains this claim of the supremacy
Of the dance by the example of tenn
pie dancing.
"In Japan I have seen in the tenn
pies priests holding ceremonies.
While they chant, a circle of dane
ers sits on floor motionless. When
priests. reach climax. when no more
words of praise or supplication can
be found, they stop" MI. flows ex-
pressive hands that had been sug-
costing the motions of the priest fell.
linen with sinuous gestures he show
ed the temple girls beginning to
rouse into life and sway into figures
of the dance.
when dancers begin to move, the
service rises to it's highest peak"
he explained. where possibilities
of voice end, dancing begins.
These possibilities of the dance
are neglected in the West. Churches
could use SYMBOLIC dances as a val
liable part of the service. Dancing
was once so used, and theatre and
church belong together. 1 do not
blame tho churches for denouncing
the dance as it is in popular use.
But in its highest forms, as sincere
art, it is worthy of respect.
"One New York church last year
attempted use of symbolic dancing
as on experiment. and 1 believe event
ually the dance will be brought back
into favor as a form of worship"
Mr.. Itow Is interested in getting
recognition for the universal quail
ity of art. He is holding as an exper-
iment oriental entertainments in this
city with oriental artists of various
kinds on the program. His aim is
to see if the American public is
interested in learning from the East
and If 1t wants to cooperate in the
work OF making art international.
An International Theatre
If it is interested he expects to
work to have the nations establish
international theatres and art gall
leries in their big cities. Eastern
painters would exhibit in this coun-
try, and our painters would exhibit
Europe and Asia.
The international theatre would
also be a project for exchange of
talent. Mr.. Itow advocates not Just
the appearance Of foreigners who
happen to be in the country. He
urges rather that the highest class
of actors, dancers and musicians go
from n country to another to dis
play their art.
Details of this scheme are not all
worked out. The dancers as Mr..
Itow says, speaks an international
language. So, to a great extent, does
the painter, and also the sculptor,
musician and moving picture actor.
But when it comes to the speak,
ing stage there are serious limita-
tons. 1t is practically impossible
that a play which depends on its
lines to tell its story Should be a
success in this country if presented
in Japanese say, or Russian. Sarah
Bernhard, heralded as tho greatest
actress of her day, packs houses in
this country, even though she plays
to her audiences in French. But
she is an isolated exception. And
besides, she speaks French the pop
ular foreign language among Amer
leans and she speaks very distinctly,
so that people who have a bit of
schoolbook French find her compar-
atively easy to understand.
How this handicap of tongues is
to be overcome in the artistic melt
ing pot, Mr.. Itow says he iSQot yet
sure. Educated foreigners, how
ever, IRE more versatile than Amer.
leans when it. comes to languages.
Mr.. Itow himself speaks a number
of languages to help him in travel
ing when eioouent gestures can not
always be made to produce tea or
ice water. 1t may be that we shall
some day see Japanese plays enact
ed in true Japanese style by native
artists, yet in the. English language.
Mr.. Itow thinks that America
should have half a dozen interna-
tional theatres. He knows Shaw,
Yeats. Maetcrlinck, Hauptman and
Tagore. and says that they agree
wiki him that artists are ready to
unite in n sriri' c. motherhood.
Considering the vast artistic popu-
lation of America from Providence
to Greenwich Village and thence to
points west, it seems plausible
that a spirit of brotherhood among
the artists O. the world might In
deed become a potent force.