DANCING IN ALL AGES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20886, 30 May 1931, Page 1 (Supplement)

DANCING IN ALL AGES.

PALEOLITHIC RECORDS. BY A.G.K. " Am I to be blamed for reducing the corpulence of my body?" Though tho author of that remark was a follower of Terpsichore, ho was not, as one might suppose, some modern greybeard exercising at the cabaret. No, he was a Greek philosopher who lived considerably over two thousand years ago. When at the age of sixty Socrates took up dancing, some of his friends remonstrated with him, and he replied rather plaintively with this question. Among the earliest records of dancing are those left behind by tho later paleolithic men. Even to these savage, barely human people, who were roaming the continent of Europe twenty thousand years before Christ, dancing was not unknown. According to drawings which have been discovered in a cave in Spain, they performed a sort of crude measure with posturing and gestures for tho gratification of their gods. It is noteworthy that in its most primitive forms dancing lias always been used by the peoples as an expression of religious sentiment. This is truo of the ancient Egyptians, the Greeks, tho Hebrews, the Romans, and the Asiatic races. Since before the days of written records there have been traditions in Greece regarding tho worship of their gods. The ceremonial included dressing up, dancing and chanting. From this gradually evolved tho art of tragedy, which later Euripides and Sophocles were to raise to such a high level. Dryden has spoken of dancing as the " poetry of the foot," but in most of these early dances tho entire body was brought into use to convey their gestures, while the hands and arms played a much more important part than the feet. One gathers that the early dances of tho Hebrews were provoked by some spontaneous outburst of joyous emotion. Tho Chronicler tells us that, after a victory over the Philistines, " the women of Israol came out of all tho cities of Israel singing and dancing to meet King Saul." Even earlier than this, in the days Moses, one reads that " Miriam the prophetess took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances." The Art in England.

Gradually, with the increasing artificialities of civilisation, dancing was turned into a form of entertainment, and became entirely eliminated from religious ceremonies. It was during tho reign of Edward 111. that the Morris dance was introduced into England. The name is derived from " Morisco," a dance of the Moors, to whom it owes its origin. As dressing up was still a pastime dear to the heart of the peasant, the dance was enacted in costume.

During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries out-of-door dancing became exceedingly common in England. At all fairs and villago festivals folk dancing was an important feature of tho celebrations. About this period, or a little earlier, the custom of dancing after dinner also became very popular. It is still a favourite pastime among young people, although in those days it meant more than merely throwing back u few rugs and turning on or radio. One can picture tho household gathered in the great hall, with tho minstrels seated at one end.' If it were a large domicile, there would probably bo several players among the servants. But in less affluent families some strolling minstrel might be hailed and promised a night's lodging in lieu of payment; or, lacking; even a vagrant player, they would trip it gaily to the accompaniment of tho ladies' voices. Modern Dancing. Modern dancing originated in Spain and Italy during the fifteenth century. Catherine do Medici introduced a number of Italian measures at the Valois Court, and it was in Franco that ballroom dancing first? became popular. From being somewhat boorish and unpolished tho dances slowly became things as beautiful and as stately as tho minuet. Tho gavotte was originally a peasants' dance, but with its advent in tho ballroom it was modified and refined until it held its place as one of tho most graceful dances of the period. The courtiors of the sixteenth century, both in Franco and England, were celebrated for their grace and lightness of foot. Queen Elizabeth, who was an ardent devotee of tho art, did much to encourage it. In tho, stately " Pavane " she took especial delight, and it is said that she bestowed the office of Lord Chancellor on Sir Christopher Hatton because " he wore green bows on his shoes and danced the Pavane to perfection." In most of the dances of this period it was customary to kiss one's partner at tho beginning and end of each measure and sometimes during the danco itself. This custom lasted until it was condemned and finally ousted by the Puritans. The Waltz and Polka. When a little over a century ago the waltz first came into prominenco it was considered most unbecoming. Indignant mammas declared that their daughters should never be allowed to learn such an improper dance. Was it not Byron who wrote Muse of tho many twinkling feet, whose charms Are now extended up from legs to anna? But with remarkable rapidity everyone became accustomed to the new manner in which tho gentleman hold his partner, and the polka and mazurka appeared in quick succession. Tho more recent foxtrot, blues and tango are, in spito of much adverse criticism, exceedingly graceful when danced correctly. They are, in fact, far smoother, and call for better poise than their immediate predecessors, tho polka and waltz. Manners as well as styles have changed considerably in the ballroom during tho last century. Tho old-time courtly behaviour of* the men and the maidenly bashfulness of tho girls have vanished completely. Tho following story was related by a man who returned recently from a visit to tho United States. As a guest at a dance in a fashionable New York home, ho was chatting with a pretty debutante. Presently a young man pushed through the crowd and accosted her with the words, " Say, kid, lend us your body for the next' struggle." So far from appearing offended, she answered with a laconic " Sure," and was whisked away, leaving her former partner in a state of mild amazement. '