EXHIBITION DANCING.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 16, 19 January 1914, Page 9

EXHIBITION DANCING.

i , . (To the Editor.) IP - M J Sachs ' in a letter > complains about I the dancers being put on the platform I Jn squads of four, and also the un--1 . ; ir S sll p r oblein left the-judge of pickjji r,*ig Ppfrmner. Now, I would like to j ..ask where Mr Sachs has seen any pro- , f-Mdure other" than that adopted by the I judge in this case. From my earliest m « co) l e ctions it has always been the cus- | - torn for the dancing to be done in squads. I .Just take any of the Highland games . at Home, where the number of entrants lor the dancing events is sometimes, over 00, and as many as five to seven different events have to be judged I -hink that it would be rather an un- . Peasant, not to say a very trying ordeal -both for the judge and dancers also if ■Mr bachs was to have it his way, with- ; out considering the time it would take. How does Mr Sachs intend to judge, say for instance, a Highland reel or the reel ; ,, : o Tulloch if not in fours? The mixture . of Stepping referred to could be got over : ; by the dancers telling the judge the number of steps they intended dancing before 'they went on to the platform, and all -then dance the same number, which would mean that they begin together and all finish at the one time. That is how -■ the dancing is carried .on at all the .Highland gatherings in Scotland, which I take to be the very best guide as to -procedure in the matter of Highland dancing.—l am, etc.. EDWARD MACKIE.