DANCING FOR NAZIS.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20484, 10 December 1934, Page 5

DANCING FOR NAZIS.

Revised Code Issued by Board. “NATIONAL GOOD TASTE." Dancing is more popular than ever in Germany to-day now that mass celebrations and festivals are a feature of ordinary life. But even dancing is controlled by a board, and in order to settle once and for all what is permissible according to national good taste and what can be modified from the purely international to suit the most exacting Nazi critics, rules for the winter season have been handed to the forty political leaders responsible for the well-being of the areas under their command. After much consideration the onestep has been modified to a “ marchdance,” which may not, however, be danced to the military marches connected with special regiments. The tango, which Germans have preferred to any other modern imported dance, will be danced as the “ change step.” The old waltz, the new or English waltz, and a new polka in which partners are changed after every round or two, are approved, as well as the old favourite, “ Rhinelander,” which has never died out in the provinces, although never seen of late years in Berlin. There is a new German square dance based on an old folk dance set to partners, and all programmes must open with the old-fashioned polonais and close with the quick gallop of pre-war days. There is a new briskness in German ballrooms, and considering the fact that most of the Storm Troopers dance in their heavy boots, the new German form of tango may, before modification, says a correspondent, already be said to have lost any Southern languor and voluptuousness in which Argentines delight.