The Art of Stage Dancing Part 20

[Music: Waltz, In the good old Summertime

GEO. EVANS

Copyright by HAVILAND.]

[Music: Waltz from Ballet Coppelia

LEO DELIBES.]

[Music: Minuet by Mozart]

The Gavotte, played 4 in a bar, is princ.i.p.ally suitable for Ballet, while the Song and Dance ("Narcissus"), on account of its rhythm, is mainly adapted for the soft shoe and its kindred dances. It is also in 4-4. The Fox Trot is written "Alla Breve," 2 in a bar in moderate tempo. It has a somewhat strict rhythm, while the "Charleston," played usually in the same tempo, is rhythmically different. As one can notice, it has an antic.i.p.ated second beat.

Perhaps the most popular music for the Charleston dance is the Charleston number from "Runnin' Wild."

[Music: Song and Dance Rhythm

"Narcissus"

Nevin]

[Music: FOX TROT. I LOVE YOU

by HARRY ARCHER

Copyright by Leo Feist, Inc., Used by Special Permission]

[Music: "Charleston" Cecil Mack & Jimmy Johnson

Copyright MCMXXIII by Harms, Inc., N.Y.]

There are a great many varieties of national dances, all having a peculiar rhythm of their own, portraying the character of their people. Among these are the "American" characteristic dances, as "The Rube Dance" and the peculiar rhythm of the Stop Buck, the "Essence"

played in moderate 6-8 tempo, as in "Comin' Through the Rye."

[Music: Essence, Coming Thru' the Rye.]

Among the Irish Dances, the most popular are the Jig, a fast 2-4; and the Reel, a fast 6-8. The Scotch have their "Highland Fling," a fast 4-4, and there is the Hornpipe.

[Music: Irish Jig]

[Music: Irish Reel (Rory O'More)]

[Music: Highland Fling.]

[Music: Scotch Hornpipe]

The Spanish dancers are particularly fond of the Waltz, played lively, and when still more increased in tempo it becomes the "Fandango," a wild and merry dance. The Tango is in 2-4, played in moderately slow tempo; its rhythm is also adapted for the Habanera.

[Music: Valse Espana

(Fandango) Waldteufel]

[Music: Tango (Habanera)--Paul Dupont

Copyright Sam Fox Cleveland O.

("Rosita" Tango Fox Trot)]

The Italians have their "Tarantella." It is played very fast. It is supposed to cure the bite of the tarantula, hence the furious tempo.

The Egyptian (Oriental) Dance is of a more sensuous type, either moderately fast in 2-4 or slow (in 6-8).

The Soft Shoe Dance is played 4 in a bar in Schottisch tempo.

[Music: TARANTELLA--BURCHENAL]

[Music: Egyptian Ballet

(fast movement)

A. LUIGINI]

Most any 2-4 March movement is suitable for "buck" dances, but they must be in syncopated rhythm with characteristic melodies and accompaniments and not what is called straight marches, but must have the right atmosphere musically in order to inspire the dancer.

[Music: Egyptian Ballet (slow movement)--A. LUIGINI]

There are a number of very good dance alb.u.ms published annually with popular dance melodies and piano arrangements. Among the best are those published by Leo Feist, Inc., Jerome H. Remick & Company, Shapiro, Bernstein & Company, Harms, Inc., and M. Witmark & Sons, all of New York.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

DIET AND DANCING

[Ill.u.s.tration]

There are three kinds of people who should use care in all that they put into their bodies in the way of food and drink: The thin, the just right, and the stouts. That seems to cover about everybody on earth, doesn't it?

Well, that is just the idea. It is my way of saying that everyone, everywhere--you and I and the other folks, will be better looking and in better health and better spirits, more capable every way, if we pay attention to our diet.

This treatise is intended for men as well as for women and is equally applicable to both. It is addressed to the ladies, for reasons that surely are obvious, but the rebuilding of the figure is accomplished by the same methods in both s.e.xes. Remember this, and subst.i.tute "man"

for "woman" in your reading and application of this chapter if you are a male.

Incidentally, it is not stage dancers alone who need to be told what is best for them, but as our professional dealings here in the studios are with dancers, we are directing our advice to them. For really the need is greater in the case of the lady whose "job" and salary depend upon her bodily appearance and health and mental condition, than it is in the case of any other of her s.e.x. The lady of society wishes to look at her best, and usually succeeds in doing so, but her "job"

doesn't depend upon it, as yours does.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SCENE FROM NED WAYBURN'S "HONEYMOON CRUISE"]