SYDNEY'S AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19731, 2 September 1927, Page 9

SYDNEY'S AMUSEMENTS.

A " DANCING MAD " CITY. VAST EXPENDITURE OF MONEY. [from our own correspondent.] SYDNEY, Aug. 25. Sydney has gone dancing mad. As evening closes strains of fox trot and black bottom come from the hall in the suburban main street. In the city and far away in the parks great glares of light and the honk-honk of motor-cars show the way to the fashionable dance halls, which cannot be rented under £230 a night ; and even then the lights go out at midnight, for Sydney gets to bed early. The great glory of the drink bill, the enormous amount spent on drugs whichare not always true to label, go down into insignificance before the money spent in riotous dancing, in the payment of teachers to learn the latest steps, and in the hive of taxi-cabs. Every fashionable set, every institution, every birthday of anybody and everybody is not considered duly celebrated unless there is a dance.

Years ago, when the seductive waltz and the merry lancers were the right sort of steps, a ball that cleared £IOO was considered a great success. To-day it is not considered an achievement ualess it brings in £IOOO clear to the coffers. No wonder that dancing is considered a lucrative profession, and is being taken up as a regular employment.