DANCING—AND DANCING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 309, 23 May 1941, Page 5

DANCING—AND DANCING

Well I must not let myseH get mixed with fashions—l will ileal with that in my column for ladies. What I was getting at Avhen we returned to our muttons was that many young ladies go the chewing gum w.ay too, and munch away beside- a chap's ear as they dance. Then they don't carrjr themselves —they just let themselves be carried. Not only do they lounge, but also do they slouch about the ballroom instead of carrying themselves with that care that their frocks and, figures demand. Aye, walking is becoming a lost art, and many a frock looks better on a hanger. Perhaps you think me disillusioned. I am. Dancing at that selfsame dance in an effort to defeat the chewing gum. and find if the month | could issue words as well as chew- | ing noises, I said, "Nice floor isn't it?" She replied, "Yea, why don't you try it !'" Well I never did like dancing anyhow—l'd rather go out and—well—catcli a cold.

BALLROOM BOTHERS DEPARTURE OF DEPORTMENT? \ (By Unome). Do yon (lance, or do you just gjo? to dances ? Now that opens a big question. There are people who really dance, whether they do the movements of older vintage so* cher~« ished by those who cannot do anything more modern or they do the later steps so despisied by those who do the older moves. Yes, there are people who really dance even though they be doing the Highland Scottisclie or "Swing." In fact it may be said that jitter bugs really dance.

Being highly proficient (pardoa, the modesty) in the tet-psichorean art, I venture to say that even the despised modern swing or jitters is no more not dancing, than a violent-* ly executed, but unskilled, interpretation of those equally fearsome? contortions provided by the Lancers or the Highland Scottische. Dancing boils down to rhythm—that is if it doesn't boil over to something rep-* ; resenting a cross between a football; : match and a world war.

However, away with the horsefeathers, what I really wanted to point out was that the most striking • part of a dance (apart from stop-* ping with the chin and elbow of some wild Scot yelping a sehottis— che) is the lack —yes distinct all- . sence —in many young people, and , others, of deportment or ordinary manners. Now entering the Winte'r Show Hall I watched from a seat (having, disguised myself as a Avallflower) the behaviour generally of some= » people. You need not think I was: watching to see who went outside. There were plenty of other Mother Grundies busy ix. that direction and, what's more, nil you can get outside these days is a cold. Of course !i know only because I was told. No —what struck me was the amount of manpower standing atthe doorway, ogling those sweet young things who, with remarkable fortitude, sit and prepare at anycost to smile at any of the aforesaid manpower which, following its deliberation and. trusting to its great judgment, generously asks if the young lady would "Have this," "Gon tort the Carcase" or "Waggle a fetlock," which methods of approach; •ire approved by the best American film stars. The poor little damsel may refuse, if she wishes, but c.t what a cost. She is then dubbed as all sorts of a snob. No —she must not gaze upon the men as if they were (perhaps rightly) just a mol> of sheep, any one of which might be had for the asking, and pick and choose.

Then we have the young specimens of manhood (?) who, complete with, semi-dress, the required face-full o£L gum, or followed, closely, with a

Odour of stale beer, lounges around the hall with hands in pockets, breathes smoke into a lady's face, and makes her do his steps anil never considers hers.

' And then this specimen can alsi» invariably, and alas, in great numbers be seen and heard plainly talking if, and when, any person i? making a speech or rendering an Item. To complete them they neecE only the Borstal Old Boys tie.

These afflictions to the community, having generously treated their partners to a turn of the hall give a half-hearted clap as the music, ceases, and unceremoniously "dump** their partners on a seat and fade, away to the door to continue their manly discussions of whether she was: a good dancer or not. She is good enough to dance with* but —no !—not good enough to sit with. I often think it must be an Insult to a girl to he just "dumped'* as if her usefulness has ended witl* the last strains of the orchestra.

And thus, having endeavoured to find the sought after rhythm with, shuffling feet, champing jaws and waggling that part about two „ feet south of the shoulders, the. exponent of the modern ballroom deportment has had another • dance* and joins the smelting mass at ' door at once again cast a roving ey(s over the "offerings," and occasions ally turn to a companion with a, "Have you heard this one." Then' to be fair we must take in some of the gentler (?) sex, many of whom seem to. have lost the ar4r~ |of walking. *

(Continued ir- previous column)