RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30064, 23 February 1963, Page 17

RANDOM REMINDER

FOR UPHOPPLED DANCES

We are in receipt, from Riccarton, of an inquiry about a dance held near Christchurch recently. Enclosed with the note was a newspaper clipping advertising the dance. There was the usual information about place and time, the customary assurance that the feed-bag would be well worth donning, and a brief mention of the price of admission. It was the last line of the announcement which prompted the inquiry, a demand for its explantation. It read—“Of £900; 3:39 class; 13f.” This is an unsettling inquiry. No-one likes being found out and we are not at all sure of the answer. We have for some time been dimly aware of rock n* roll, and we have seen a little —enough—of the Twist. We learned from a reliable source that the current rage is the Limbo, an exercise apparently designed on the high jump, in reverse. We are informed that the dancers, suitably en-

couraged, lean backwards and slide beneath a horizontal stick, and that the world record is nine inches. But it is useless trying to fob off our Riccarton reader with statistics. She wants to know about this other business. We have now stopped staring at the advertisement, and have come to the firm conclusion that we are on the brink of another ballroom revolution. This, clearly, is a dance for Kiwis. Thirteen furlongs may seem something of a test, particularly for those equipped with very tight trousers, but if a new dance has been devised to incorporate the national passion for the race-track, it must have its value. This may be, in fact, the beginning of a national dance which will be recorded by the cameras of thousands of tourists. It certainly lends itself to exploitation. No doubt, as the thing catches on, there will be variations. To appeal

particularly to the moderns, it will no doubt be something like the Twist, but forward movement will also be required. There i« nothing to suggest the use of hurdles will not be introduced. And think of the scope for dress; there were Twist dresses, and with this new thing, the young ladies of the dance will be able to wear picture hat# and carry parasols, while their escorts turn out in coloured caps, sashes, riding boots, etc. There must, of course, be the danger of this becoming a spectator sport because of Inevitable interest in the totalizator which will no doubt play its part in proceedings. And from there it ig, unfortunately, but a step to the intrusion of some of the

young gentlemen who frequent the city on Sundays; there must be a prospect of gangs of them attempting to nobble the favourites. Anyone for the Gavotte?