Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial. (Wilmington, Del.) 1878-1928, 1922-12-30
Greeks Not Doing Greek Dancing
BY Frederic J. Haskin.

washington, Dec. 3O.--Not long ago,
n program OF various types Of classic
Greek art was being planned In one
Of our cities, and local Greek talent
was hunted out 20 play tho parts.
Creeks who could perform In dra-
matte and musical numbers we're not
hard 10 find But then came the ques-
ton OF dancing.
There was ~ be n dance given In
the classic manner by real Greek
maldcns, who might be the direct
descendants Of the bacchantes and
ceremonial dancers of old Athens. and
the producers SCI out ingcnuOusly 10
collect the Greek dancers 81 the city.
They returned stepped IN ri ON.
There were no Greek maid"ns who
could do the ancient dances. 50 the
Greek dance had 10 boz ieft 10 young
Americans with names rcminHcent Of
ancestors from England. Wales.
France. Denmark and Germany.
This incident has attracted atten-
ton 10 the fact that the recent en-
thuslasm for Greek dancing has
scarcely touched Greece. The classic
manner ~ dancing has been ad pied
Of late years by dancers Of America
and almost every country Of Europe.
But no outstanding exponents u the
F art have come from the original home
~ the classic dance.
+ 4 Greek was asked Why the girls
/ Z his country have not been swept
along IN the revival of their ceiebrat-
ed art.
1t IL not easy % say" ne
answered. Il believe the young girls
in the schools have felt that the Greek
iancers-they wear--you know thcy
wear not 20 much clothlng-and Tho
girls have not wished 90 wear the old
costumes Put that il MT perhaps
sp true now" he ADDED. Il know
Isadora Dunn had some Greek pa
pills. when she was .n my country. an'
there are no doubt "a few girls ,hcr'
j who are Interested 10 tho c.assi'
dance"
This modern Greek man conveye'
the impression. however. tn9t m
modern Greek maiden would st.l 10
Dr. sh cked 90 think Of herself J..
the Rarb ~ her ancestors Viedons o
statues wearing thin layer %
drapory ard that none too securel
arranged, seemed to fash before N
eyes % the very completely dresse
, young Greek - tho drawing rom.
Isad-ra Duncan's latest appearance
In flowing and disappearing draper
would seem 90 support this y0ur
mans .dea that inadequate costume
= arc a necessary part u the classl
+, dance. Miss Duncan * one u n
/, leaders in the revival 81 classic dan'
/, ing and her example has far-reach.n
O. results among other naturalist
u dancers.
but some dancers n he class
90 schoo, Do Idly disagree w!.n Miss Dur
p cans point ~ view. They explal
that while tho anciett Greeks dane,
4 .n dlmy garments OF even in no "a
4 meuts az all. no one was shocked 0
% their appearance. The minds q p
u people were adjusted % a d.nerei
l. set q conventions from hose obtai,
= ing today. Perfection Of the huma
e body was as casually admired then Z
j. a beautiful face - now.
Costume Versus Custom.
: These dancers cay that while q
p scene % freedom gained from wea
% ing light drapery IS desirable IN dan
.rg. some concessions should be ma
le 60 custom. Too abbreviated
l. d.aphanous a costume. even Z wo
T with the most artistic % .ntent.og
p gains the interest Of the mode
I'd audience at the expense of The dan
n Itself. Instead 4 costume. dane
j. setting, music. and steps hlendl
20 tremendously. the clothing q The ps
he former becomes 4 distraction. To z
X Greek audience this would not IA
OF been so. but the modern dancer "a
e MT expect - overthrow n a. aft'
- noon the traditions Of ais time.
the conservatives argue. and n
point OF view s worthy OF notice, sir
d; rarely gets much attention.
But after al. the costume sho,
not be he most important point
the presentation Of a classic dan
Il seems strange that a detai, % =
sort could have stood between mode
youths Of Greece and a return 10 ,
dancing !dea. OF their famous alc
tors.
Yet. when the Greeks dance rod
NJ. they d. the latest ballroom steps.
NJ. occasionally az festivals. peasa
perform national folk dances.
In one u the typical folk dances. 1
peasants Join hands IN a long cha
l. Many Of the dancers are in mod,
IN, clothes. Some OF the girls wear
CT voium.ncus peasant dress with e
o. broidered skirt and apron and WI
. sleeveless coat. and some OF the n