ON DANCING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume V, Issue 52, 27 December 1890, Page 8

ON DANCING.

Every now and then a carping and captious world undertakes a crusade against dancing, and only the other day was it that some one of these alarmists brought out a book against it, which interesting volume bears the quaint title of ‘ Hugging to Music.’ But there is no likelihood that this book will put an end to the waltz or in fact turn a single devotee away from the enjoyment of the dance. Dancing is just as natural as walking or running. It is not a creation of art. . All savages dance.

Now as regards this question of hugging while dancing, it is one of those bugbears which certain people conjure up with no little unction. It affords them far more pleasure to do this than the so-called • hugging ’ does those who engage in it. It is hard to make love to a woman while you are dancing with her, as any dancer will tell you. Waltzing is a tine art. It calls for your whole mind, and hence if you will take the trouble to observe the faces and expiessions of two good dancers, you'll discover that they are terribly in earnest, that it is largely a matter of business with them, and that to judge from their intent and preoccupied manner they are engaged in trying to fit round pegs in square holes. The enjoyment is in the afterthought, just as the full flavour of the wine can only be enjoyed after you have swallowed it, or the pleasures of an evening passed with boon companions are sweetest in remembrance.

It is pietty generally conceded that the American girl is the best waltzer in the world. The English woman waltzes as a pendulum swings, an unceasing and unvarying monotony so regular in its motions that you might keep the time of day by it were it to continue long enough. The American waltzes not only with her Ixxiy, but with her mind. English women converse in a slow and collected manner while they are encircling the room in their comfortable one, two, three style. It is the pose of motion, and yet, strange to say, they are quick and elastic on their feet when it conies to athletics. Here they let themselves out, their eyes brighten, cheeks redden and dignity goes to the winds. The fact of the matter is, she puts more thought into her tennis than she does into her dancing. Voila tout!