THE MODERN DANCE

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2973, 10 January 1917, Page 3

THE MODERN DANCE

One interesting fact about Mr. John Philip Sousa was developed in the course of an interview "in Boston recently. It is that though, ho has composed music that has sot millions of feet into joyous motion, ho does not dance. In this ho is liko tho great composer of waltz music, Strauss. But ho believes dancing one of the greatest forms of exercise and mental tonic. "Two of tho greatest things for tho world in this generation," ho says, "aro tho growth and development of dancing and of golf." The interviewer asked for the composer's understanding of the psychology of the modern dance — tho cause of its popularity with all ages. "Its individuaEsm," he. replied. "This is. tho age of the individual. "Wo have departed from tho stago idea of formal dancing, that was formerly followed_in tho ballroom. Twenty years ago, if you looked into a _ ballroom where 300 couples were dancing, you would see them all dancing alike, or nearly sol The danco was intended to bo uniform,' whatever the stylo of tho individual. Now, wherever you sco 300 couples dancing, you sco 300 styles of dancing. The individual enjoys it, because of tho latitude given him. Ago makes no difference in dancing, so long as the dancer is not infirm."