Lured to the Dance

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 49, 19 June 1931, Page 10

Lured to the Dance

S I listened to Miss. Connop’s de-.. scription ‘of the influence of ballroom dancing and her tribute ta: -its charms, and the way it has been popularised by the film-silent and talkieI could not but reflect upon the wonderful change wrought by the centuries

man in his senses will dance," said 4) solemn old Cicero, and the anathema with which the dance was regarded in the Puritanical ages is still recalled. But Milton was broader; Byron was eulogistic; and even solid Channing paid his tribute to the lure of dancing. "No amusement," said he, "seems more to have a foundation in our nature. The animation of youth overflows spontaneously in harmonious movements. The true idea of dancing entitles it to favour. Its end is to realise perfect grace in motion: and who does not know that "a sense of the graceful is one of the higher faculties of our nature?" So Miss Connop has good backing for her assertion that there is imbedded deep in thousands of hearts the desire to dance. But, alas, their bodies shrink j irom venturing on the floor because the art is deemed to be difficult. Therefore she urged that dancing-masters and mistresses should concentrate upon dispelling this illusion. Dancing, she claims, keeps you young, fit and happy. At any rate, Miss Connop is enthusiastic, and I renew the compliment. paid before. I do love people to be in earnest in what they are saying. Her vivacity and enthusiasm are quite infectious, but I wonder would she stamp upon my toes (should I ever have the- good luck to dance with her) if I were to recommend consultation of a dictionary upon the pronunciation of the word "super-~ lative"? in the mental attitude to dancing. "No