Ballroom Dancing

New Zealand Listener, Volume 20, Issue 515, 6 May 1949, Page 8

Ballroom Dancing

[s dancing an art or a science-should one simply surrender to the impulse or does one move (as certain old-time duellists did) "by the book of arithmetic"? According to A. L. Leghorn, of Christchurch, who is to give a series of broadcast dancing-lessons from Station 3YA, beginning on Thursday, May 12, it is something of both-or, as -he puts it, "there is some science behind the art." ; Whichever comes first, the science or the art, no one who has suffered at the hands (or feet) of the inexpert will deny that some instruction is necessary if everyone in the ballroom is to be happy, and it is that socially necessary

tuition which Mr. Leghorn will provide in his broadcasts. The latter, which will follow the general pattern of a most successful series broadcast from the Christchurch station some seasons ago, will be 12 in number, comprising one introductory talk, three lessons each on the quickstep, waltz, and foxtrot, and finally two lessons on the tango, The first broadcast is rather more important than introductory talks usually are, since it explains in detail what is meant by such terms as "line of dance," "diagonal to wall," and so on-terms which must be clearly understood before instruction can be given. Two terms which require particular clarity are "lines of direction" and "foot positions" -both of which are illustrated here. "Lines of direction" have relation to the ballroom only, whereas "foot positions" are indicated in relation to the body. In his first talk, Mr. Leghorn will also deal with the fundamental principles of dancing before going on to more specific instruction, Modern Ballroom Dancing will be broadcast weekly and the ‘first lesson is scheduled for 9.30 p.m. on May 12.