OLD-FASHIONED DANCES

Northern Advocate, 24 May 1929, Page 8

OLD-FASHIONED DANCES

INCREASING POPULARITY. IN FAVOUR IN WHANGAREI. (Contributed.) A well-known w r riter once remarked rather cynically that the Victorian Age was cold and 1 ugly and smugly hypocritical. He said that romance could not exist in an atmosphere of horsehair furniture, wax flowers, bustles and beards. He may possibly have been right, but all the same his remarks rather fade in their significance when the question of dancing is taken, into consideration. It appears as though even if the rest of the age was cold and ,ugly, the dances of the period were not, and that romance could live in that atmosphere. "Old-fashioned dances" as they are called are coming rapidly into favour all over the country and the people of generation are jealously guarding their select little preserve from the ravaging encroachment of jazz and other weirdly named steps. Even in Whangarei, there are such dances, where those who find no pleasure in fox-trotting may engage in waltzing, the polka, the Highland Schottische and other similar measures to their heart’s content. Whatever may be said to the contrary, the participants enjoy themselves. One/who witnessed some of the old surviving steps at a popular hall on Tuesday evening was informed that jazz was not allowed. All .the steps must be "old-fashioned." No fiveinstruments orchestra was needed for these events; a piano played with a glorious swing was sufficient for any needs. A couple of youngsters of the modern school attempted to jazz, but they were swallowed up and drowned in the swirl and gaiety of a Victorian valse; their steps seemed strangely grotesque in that mad riot of colourful synchronisation. Other young people ■were entering into’ the spirit of the evening, and dancing the intricate steps with zest and obvious enjoyment. Possibly the old steps and the new dresses might' have appeared a little strange to our greatv-grandfathers, had they been presents but they could not surely have said that their dresses made any difference to the enjoyment. "On with the dance TJ appeared to be the watchword, and with only a few short minutes interval the "old fogies" ivere gyrating on the polished floor, and it was not difficult to visualise the room, by mellow candlelight and to see sedat-e gentlemen in side-whiskers, demure little ladies in their frills and curls, and the imposing array of chaperones in their stiff black silks—memories of a past age. Whangarei will be well catered for in old-time dances, awl regular evenings have been set .aside for these popular events. Wliiethor jazz will give place to the old -steps is an interesting speculation into the future.