DANCING

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 14, 21 October 1927, Page 4

DANCING

LESSONS FROM. 3YA COMMENCING ON THURSDAY. Commencing on Thursday, October 27, 8YA will broadcast a series of lessons on modern ballroom dancing. Mr. Cyril Poulton, the well-known Christchurch teacher, and an expert of wide experience, has been engaged. This}. gentleman holds certificates o1 English and American associations of teachers of dancing, and listeners-i1i may rest assured that they will be receiving first-class instruction, which will mean a great deal to all lovers of dancing. "For’ seyeral years,’’ says Mr. Poulton, who gives an interesting outline of the matiy advantages which may be obtained by attentive reception of the broadcast lessons, ‘‘teachers of dancing in New Zealand have been working in an‘ almost vain endeavour to let the public know right from wrong, as applied to the ballroom dancing of toay. "Students have .enrolled at the studios, and in due course received their lessons-style, balance, mechanics of the feet, time, rhythm, and general deportniént, all have been very fully explained to them, and upon the comnletion of their tuition they haye been good dancers, and have left the studios | to go out to help spread the gospel of correct ballroom dancing. "But this in itself is not sufficient,"’ says Mr. Poulton. "A large number of people still do not know what constitutes good: style and correct dancing. Now, with the advent. of radio broadcasting, and the enterprise of the Radio _ Broadcasting Company of New Zealand, faults, which for the past few years have retarded the growth of dancing, and which have prejudiced large numbers of people against this so-called

‘jazz,’ can be explained fully; and the people can be enlightened as to the nature of the correct dancing and style. "Tt is to be hoped that, as a result of this broadcasting of lessons and advice, the style of present dancers will improve, and that those just commencing their dancing will receive inspiration and help when it is most required. False impressions will, once and for all, be removed, and there will be nothing to stop our dancers competing with the world’s best. ‘"’lhe musical values of the different dances, aud the relationship of music to dancing will also be fully explained. Dancers, here and in Australia, at the present time show an almost total disregard for the music: they are either ahead or behind the time throughout the dances. Of course, this does not apply to all dancers, but I maintain tha; the greater number of them meander rourid a ballroom completely oblivious of the band One only has to visit a ballroom to test the truth of this statement. Another reaSon for complaint lies with the bands themselves. They imagine that there is only one dance in the world-the qnick-time fox trot. Why cannot they introduce more variety into the programmes, and so give more pleasure to the dancers? "T will explain all this during my series of lessons, as it has a most distinct bearing upon the ability of our dancers. In conclusion, allow me _ to earnestly entreat dancers, would-be dancers, and the public generally not only to ‘listen-in’ to the lessons, but to act upon the advice which will accompany each lesson, particularly that portion of it which deals with style and deportment, as only by attending to this portion of the lessons will dancers really improve themselves, and thus obtair. the maximum amount of pleasure and health from their dancing, which, after all, is why we dance."