KINGDOM OF JAZZ.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18897, 20 December 1924, Page 14

KINGDOM OF JAZZ.

MODERN DANOE CRAZE. SETTING THE FASHIONS. MR. RALTON REVIEWS PROSPECTS The kingdom of jazz has become a very real thing upon earth and although there remain stalwarts who affirm that the art of dancing ceased to be practised when the negro dances and melodies were seized upon and developed into the elaborate system of syncopation wo now know, they are numbered with the past. The leader of tho Savoy Havana Band, Mr. Bert Ralton, now in Auckland, discussed the subject yesterday, and from his remarks one is forced to conclude thatmodern dancing has brought into existence a school of professionals who aro aiming at woilding a power, rapidly reduced to terms of cosh, similar to the power the Paris fashion designers exercise over female raiment. To some folk it is laughable to read of dancing masters from two continents gravely assembling to discuss steps and styles and to place their hall mark upon now ideas. But their deliberations are not so ludicrous as at first appears. Their pronouncements have helped to elevate standards of dancing and to ban dances which are so primitives cousins of negro tribal dancesthat they can easily depart from the spirit of the art. Elaborate Steps Not Popular. At the same time the dancing /'parliaments" have a keen nose for business, and they regularly announce new dances, to learn which people will rush with their guineas or their dollars to the academies. In England, and the Anglo-Saxon world generally, they havo not been very successful in setting fashions in this matter. According to Mr. Ralton, tho fox trot, the modern waltz and the one-step hold the field. Tho steps he says are easily picked up, and tho Anglo-Saxon is not inclined to concentrate in learning elaborate steps. Young folk who "take" dancing journals and fret themselves over the new systems of steps, need not worry themselves. If they stick to the common dances and the common steps they will be in good company. Occasionally ono hears a young miss declare that such and such a "step or stylo is " quite out of datequite. She'is wrong. Only tho few embrace tho new ideas. Tho great majority prance or shuffle around very much in the style that took the world by storm ten years ago, and in Mr. Ralton's opinion they will continue to do so.

Exhilaration and Exercise. " 'The great thing is to get amusement, exhilaration and exercise," he says, "and while I would like to seo the tango developed for tho sake of the beautiful music that has been provided for it, I think that the tango will remain tho peculiar possession of the Latin countries where the style comes naturally to people and that the English and tho Americans will bold to the present dances. The modern waltz is far removed from the old waltz which, in my opinion, was tho most graceful and beautiful dance wo have ever had. It is not easy to learn. It cannot be picked up in a couple of evenings as are the present dances, and he would bo a bold man who would say that the average dancer of to-day had tho skill of the older generation who ekild do the waltz well. Often I havo .i :u aske-'. to play an old waltz at a danc 1 ? The ;;ian comes up and says that there was nothing like tho old music. Whom I have done so I have usually found th;r. those requesting the music cannot danc.j the/ real waltz. They either do a fox t!-ot or a one-step or they just 'wade around.' Tho . best that can be said it that they like tho old music. They can't dance to it. It is not surprising that dancing should differ so considerably. Every Second dancing teacher has his own stylo and imposes home-made innovations, Take the London blues, a faster step than tho American blues. Not two masters in London teach it the same way. This dance was called by tho negroes the 'mooch.' When society took it up it became the blues even though the music became merrier." The Gramophone a Factor. One of the great factors in popularising dancing in Mr. Ralton's opinion is the gramophone. Records by the best bands in tho world are readily and cheaply obtained, and it is possible for people to learn the steps without making an exhibition of themselves in public or thinking they are doing so. It probably explains, too, why grandfathers are now stepping out bravely with the boys, and why children are expert dancers at a very early age. " I feel that the spirit of youth is being served by the dancing we call jazz. It is almost as good exercise as swimming, and its exhilarating effect makes for health. It is the best cure for moping I know. But, naturally," ho added, " J claim that part of tho stimulus comes from the music."