DANCING AND TENNIS.

Putaruru Press, Volume IV, Issue 126, 1 April 1926, Page 1

DANCING AND TENNIS.

FORMS OF EXERCISE. (Much of the dancing seen in fashion able places is casual rather than good in the strict sense. That dancing is changing for the better in the same gradual way that lawn tennis changed is the interesting theory put forward by Smith in “ The Art of Dancing.” “To sit up night after night, or even worse, morning after morning, and to Spend long hours in hot and overcrowded rooms, is .a test of the survival of the fittest. This habit of turning night into day is usually accompanied by heavy meals and, headjy drinks, which are the primary objects. For this reason all possible space is devoted to tables, and the dance floor is so small and crowded that any free movement is difficult, and dancing is on* of the question. Pottering round is the only possibility, and this means fatigue instead, of healthy and beneficial exercise. “ There was a time when lawn tennis was a feeble game played by tight-ly-corseted Victorian ladies and by somewhat e|feminate youths. The game consisted of short sequences of scoops to vocal accompaniment of ’ oo ! ’ from the ladies and ‘ Jolly good —that —what ?’ from the effeminate youths.- All this has changed now. Tennis tournaments have done their good work and lawn tennis has become a vigorous and- scientific game demanding stamina, regular and hard practice-, and obedience to th-e laws of health. It is not bad form to playlawn tennis well nowadays. “ A similar change in ballroom dancing is needed! and there is every indication that it has begun. Competitions have changed, the standard of* dancing, which has never been so high as at the present time. In lawn tennis language it is Wimbledon in the place of Victorian pat-hall. Constant effort is needed if dancing is to benefit health. Effort to reach back and control the movement brings into play body muscles which are not in general use but are of great value in physical training. Lazy dancing is as valueless from the point of view of beneficial exercise as an evening spent in an armchair.”