Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-17
TERPsICHoRE holds frs

place in musical events this
''7- week. There still are indi-
vidualS in the musical world
., who are loathe to accept this
muse seriously within the sacred
inner circle of musical art. This
: attitude,e which was much more
general a few years ago, has I'M
dergone radical changes within
J.. the past. decade. The dramatic
values of pantomimic characteri-
:. cation are being stressed. The
complete and easy command of
v the technique of various types o:
dance steps. is not the prime OBJ
= ject, but is taken for granted The
individuality of gifted dancers is
almost as much a necessity for
= success as the technical ability
Dancers must be much more than
moving puppets. The new ballet
music, too, is more dramatic and
requires more original interpreta-
ton in its trueSt sense than did
the Saccharine romanticiSm OF
Johann Strauss waltzes, the Cop
pelia" music of DelibeS, even the
Subtler themes of Chopin.
There are those in the So-called
traditional ballet world that would
belittle the influence of ISadore
Duncan. It is significant that
many of the Russians who have
done such revivifying and charm
ing things to the art of the ballet
as was cryStallized for the public
edification most Strikingly by the
Ballet Russo, have recognized not
only the art that was individual
to ISadore Duncan, but frankly
and gratefully mentioned her as
having q possible influence on
their own er1deavorS since her APP
pearances in Moscow.
X X ~
THE dancer who will appear in
Washington in concert pro-
gram this week, however, is of
still a different type. La Argen-
tina is an authoritative and faSci-
mating exponent of the intricacies
of the Spanish dancing. Her
castenet work is Superlatively
fine. Her command of the inner
spirit of the Spanish music, as
well as of the steps and gestures.
has made her truly great. Born iii
Argentina, the country which
gave her also her stage name, La
Argentina, at the same time has
been honored by being recognized
as a leading interpreter in Spain
of the Spanish dances. She later
won Paris and other European
capitals and now has New Workers
buying out the house for many
extra dates in her brief season
in that metropolitan center of this
Washington Tuesday afternoon
will be her initial performance in
the National Capital.
+ \ y 4
TT is interesting to reflect upon
the fact that La Argentina ap-
peared in America first several
seasons before her sensational
Partisan success and she came
back again and again in both
musical shows and vaudeville and
= received only scant acclaim I'M
til after her amazing success in
the French capital two seasons
ago, Then, last Winter, La Argen-
tina became the rage of New York
and seems to be holding her own
in the front ranks in the affee-
tions of that tickle public again
this year. Such is the narrow
boundary between luck and its
antitheSis. Such, too, is a rare les
son in the faith an artist must
perforce have in himself, or her
self, and the power Of persistence.
Last year, almost exactly a year
ago, it was the privilege of the
writer of this column to sit in an
audience in a New York hall and
see this amazing dancer, whirl-
ing riot of colorful personality
and dancing skill. An audience
that was notable for many famous
musicians 1t included grew almost
boisterouS over the work Of this
artist. To the last note of the last
encore La Argentina was flashing
vivacity. A moment later, in the
drafty back-Stage corridor the
writer found this same individual,
with her sleek black hair and vivid
painted face, Swathed in huge
turkish towels while she was so
hoarSe with q severe cold that she
could not say word. La Argen-
tina offered then a remarkable ex-
ample of the pluck that is an eS-
sential asset for really great
artist.
THIS dancer has made some
French and German records on
the photograph, castenet solos
with the Orchestra de Ballots
Espagnoles giving the accompani-
ments. Through the courtesy OF
Franklin Adams of the PAN
American onion it was our privi-
lege to hear these selections.
There was the malicious chatter
ing of the castenets in contrast to
the chantlike theme of Albeniz'
Cordoba; there was the bril-
lance of Latin sunshine in the gay
theme of Valverde'S "Corrida"
which had Shadowy suggestions OF
both Bizet and John Philip Sousa;
there was mystic symbolism in the
record of Granados' "Danza !;
more subtle and intricate in
rhythms seemed the "Valenciana'
of Colorado and "Jota Aragonesa."
1t will be remembered by those
who may have seen this dancer in
programs elsewhere last year that
her exceptionally clever pianist
accompanist did much to enhance
the values which the dancer
astreSsed in her numbers. 1t is SAID
80 that the new pianist now touring
5ow with La Argentina is equally
gifted.
- ~
.-HHArrHr i.ac.,,;ri,ncr mind may find II