DANCE-MAD WOMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 249, 20 October 1928, Page 13 (Supplement)

DANCE-MAD WOMEN.

PETS OF MAYFAIB. DOWAGERS

PAID PARTNERS.

"I have made £600 in four months; have dined at the best houses, eaten of the best foods, and drunk of the best wines. 1 am joining a motoring party for a tour through France and shall end up at Juan les Fins before I start woric again when the winter Riviera season opens at Monte Carlo in October."

This confession was made recently by one of London's many professional male dance partners, who are just now bidding farewell to their various affluent women clients after a successful season.

Among the many who are congratulating themselves on the rich harvest the London season has brought them, there probably are few with more reason for self-congratulation than these pampered pets of Mayfair. Presents of Jewels. Either through advertisements or by chance introductions they offer their servicee to partnerless women, and in return receive handsome presents of

money, clothes and jewellery. Some are paid regular salaries by the rich women they escort to dances.

A comparatively easy life and a comfortable income is the reward of these pets of dowagers and debutantes whom they accompany everywhere from May to August. Others have their own cars and take a holiday during Cowea week and then go over to Deauville, Le Touquet, to the Lido, and other fashionable resorts, to renew their acquaintance with the vain, partnerless and jazz-mad wiveß of non-dancing men.

"Modern dancing, its rather intricate steps, and the number of new dances that are constantly being introduced, are partly responsible for the role of professional dancer being such a lucrative one," said the ballroom manager of a leading hotel. "Society women like to be up-to-date in their dancing, ind in many cases their husbands don't dance and haven't the time to learn." £35 A Week. "Some of the partners make as much as £35 a week, and even more, and run their own cars. They sleep during the day, and dance half the night. Not a few of them are ex-public school men, and ex-'varsity men. Professional dancing partners in this country are the counter-

part of those graceful, tactful and well-groomed dancing men on the Continent, who, because of their fine manners, gracious compliments, immaculate clothes and dancing, reap such a rich harvest among the rich women of Paris."

The manager of a well-known West End club, said the growth of the popularity of dancing, the shortage of men, and the independence of women, who often have more money than men of their acquaintance in their own social sphere, prefer an "automatic partner" whom they can summon at will. "Sixpenny Partners." "The idea started with the 'sixpenny partner,' a feature at the popular palais de dance establishments throughout London, the suburbs* and provinces. This system has now extended to the smart clubs and restaurants in the West End. Dance partners in private houses even are not unknown," he explained.

At the end of this year's Riviera season one flighty and amply proportioned English peeress is reputed to have presented her dancing partner, who had faithfully escorted her throughout the season, with a new motor car.

Whether the vocation of "professional partner" will last remains to be seen.