DANCING AS A WORLD POWER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 960, 29 October 1910, Page 11

DANCING AS A WORLD POWER.

An international conference of dancing masters was held in 'London recently. The "Daily Chronicle" declares that the representatives of seventeen countries have assembled to draw up new. laws regulating the art and status of this noble and beneficent profession.' They are not concerned with the invention or adoption of any new dances, or with any local interests. In tho words of their vicepresident (Mr. Crompton), they are deliberating upon ."dancing as an . international art, so that an absolute unison and harmony of. method, of time, and of style may reign throughout the civilised world."

That is to say, if a man has learnt to waltz in Peckhaui-Rye he should find himself at ease in the ballrooms of Paris; if he has acquired the polka at Tooting Bee he should be able to keep time with tho sprightly maidens of Vienna, Rome, or Naples; if he has scored a triumph with tho lancers at Blackpool : he should bo able to set to partners .at once in Berlin or. Baden-Baden. The object of the present conference is to form standards and ideals of dancing which shall be universal.. . ■. • ;

Mr. Crompton, the vice-president, •in an interview, pointed out the moral and physical importance of such a reform. "Dancing," he said, "gives a man a power of personality which otherwise he does not possess.' Physically he is a superior being, with all his limbs naturally developed, supple, and easy, with a grace and beauty of body which makes him good to look upon, attractive as he enters a room, distinguished in his carriage. He opens' a door, he shakes hands, he makes his bow to a lady, he walks into an assembly, he takes up a chair, or does' any little simple action in a manner 'which marks him out from those stiff, awkward, gauche fellows who have never been taught to dance. "Morally he is a master-man, refined, courteous, and elevated in his dealings with men, and especially with women. Football produces a brutal manner to women. The ordinary public school Englishman. who .has. played' football but never, loarnt dancing treats a woman as a 'good pal,'.' or an r effeminate thing, below his; notice. The dancing man learns, how to behave to women with reverence, and gentility. Morally as well as physically hp is the better man for his' dancing lessons." . , . After hearing Mr. Crompton, who can .doubt that dancing, is so great a moral power that unless the British Empire wants a decline and fall it had better introduce dancing to, the .school curriculum at the earliest possible moment?