The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-08-18

You can't skate in winter. For
that would thicken the ankles.
Tennis can be attempted moderately. But if
gone in for seriously it would muscularize
wrists and shoulders.
lust before theater curtain time. the body
must be made limp and timber for the per-
" Torrance. There is a routine of stretching
exercises which practically every music show
dancer goes through.
1t you were to wander casually backstage
a few minutes before curtain time. the sights
would cause you to believe that you had
may be observed grasping a bit of scenery for
support while stretching a toe directly up the
back wall. Another may have one foot propped
on a piano top and another on the floor. An
other may be using the back of a chair.
Americas best dancer uses not only these.
but actually goes through the numbers she is
later to perform before an audience.
his is to provide a sort of relaxed fatigue.
or whatever you might call it," she explains.
When you do these steps for the first time you
are likely to pant-like a runner. This passes,
and a certain elasticity is achieved. Then you
can 60 on.
The exercises at home are limited almost
entirely to limbering. and while they might
seem difficult to some. are really not particularly
strenuous. Just as a pianist or vocalist must
practice a couple Of hours a day. so the dancer
gives about two hours daily to training.
GIFTS funny-but most people get the notion
that once a performer has arrived. it's nee
essary only to lean back and float along
on gained laurels. AS a matter of fact, one Of
the most trying features is to create and practice
new steps. | still take dancing lessons. | go to a
class regularly.
There's a room at the school equipped with
mirrors and there it is possible to watch your
new Inventions"
AS anyone in the Broadway belt knows only
else. Gags are pilfered. and so are dance steps.
Two difficult dance steps which Miss Hoe
tor created are now so generally used by the
average run of solo ballet performers that she
has tossed them into the discard.
And, as she points out. some of the steps that
get the loudest applause are more tricky than
difficult.
Turing the entire run of the perform
ance Aunt Annie sits patiently night after
night in the dressing room ready to help
and cheer her niece.
And sitting there watching her. | never get
over my anxiety and my WONDER" says Aunt
Annie. When she takes some of those difficult
twists. | always shut smy eyes and hold my
breath until it's over with. because | always
have a fear that some night she's going to lose
her balance and fall over. hurting herself.
And then she needs someone to comfort her
some nights. You'd think that by this time she
know that sometimes she still come. in of the
stage and sits down and begins to cry. And
when ! ask her for lands sakes what's the mat
ter. shell tell me that she did something wrong
or that she wasn't particularly good that night.
And to save my soul. | couldn't have noticed it.
But she's just that sensitive. That child will
come home nights and go to bed and cry herself
to sleep on the pillow. And no one would
know it,"
For. after all, the biggest town hit is. under
the skin. just one Of the smallest town girls.