THE FUN OF DANCING.

Waipa Post, Volume XXI, Issue 1242, 13 May 1922, Page 6

THE FUN OF DANCING.

(By Editor of The Dancing World)

Dancing, as it is practised to-day, is a pastime—that is a fact which is apparently forgotten by the theorists who are for ever deploring that “its traditions” are violated by incorrect, inelegant styles'. It is all a matter of temperament. What one man finds a serious form of art, enough to absorb much of his time and thought, another will regard as merely a pleasing, inexpensive way of whiling away his leisure hours'. The majority, therefore, dance to please themselves —and they are happy. A great point is, however, that no one can dance persistently without benefitting from the gentle exercise it provides I know at least one winner of Walking championships who trains for his contest on the dancing floor. There are other instances of benefits gained. The elderly gentleman who night after night will be seen upon the floor at a well-known dancing'place, is finding in the dance the only cure yet discovered for chronic insomnia. Another finds that dancing has practically cured him jo® shell-shock. . To many, be it noted, dancing provide© a gentle, soothing exercise, bringing benefits equal to more violent forms of exertion, which in some cases would be actually harmful. People are, however, no more attracted to the dance for its curative properties than they are attracted to medicine for the same reason. They go a-dancing solely for pleasure. Fun and “novelty,” that is, variety, form the basis of every form of recreation which continues to attract us, and the dance band which introduces something of “surprise”—with an additional show of “fireworks —will please the enjoyment-iseeker far more the most masterful rendering of a classical item, The fun of a novelty night is enjoyed all the more for the reason that the audience produce it for themselves. The diversion is a© harmless as it is enjoyable, and wherever “novelty’’ nights are introduced, everyone enjoys himself, votes the affair “a jolly evening,” and determines to come next ’ time.