Mrs « Dart

Miss Byrn

Mrs. Dart

Miss Byrn

Mr 86 Dart

Miss Byrn

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highly satisfying moans of social expression instead of a hotbed c*
distorted personalities. Ideally, every school should have a soocis’
director =< a person of tact and charm who realizes the importance 92%
helping boys and girls te have wholesome good times together. Beside:

the training in dancing, there are opportunities to learn and practic~

gracious and considerate behavior, the importance of posture and a
natural and easy walk, all worthy and attainable objectives in a woll
conducted dance classe

I think we cannot fail to admit that we have a definite responsibility
in doing all we can to premete the accoptanece of this challenge,
theugh I have no doubt that many physical education teachers might
feel inadequately prepared to build a course in social dancing. Would
you have any suggestion as to a method of approach, Miss Byrn?

Of course, it goes without saying that the successful teacher must bo
@ good dancer hersolf. It is fully as ridiculous for an individual
who does not dance to teach dancing as it weuld be for an indivédual
to referee 2 basketball game when he does not know the rulese In a
beginning olass an intreduc tion to the course should be made in which
general points of etiquette and good dancing are stressed, to bring
out the point that behavior on the dance floor is always associated
with good manners. Points concerning dress and grooming, addressing
guests and hosts, introdue’ tions, gracious greetings and leave takings .

‘geoing that everyone has a partner, deference to older people, and s0

forth, should be discussed whenever mistakes are made they should be
quietly pointed eut. All of this instruction should be correlated with
actual secial situations by having a party now and then, first presided
ever by the instructor but later managed by the students as they gain

eenfidenee and poise,

Yes, these should be very helpful suggestions, and I feel, too, that
the importance of carefully selectod leadership cannot be everestimated .

Many teachers find it difficult to attain a sane and normal approach
to the boy and girl probleme A disciplinary attitude, on the part of
teachers, a policing of parties is fatal to the success of the under-
taking. Miss Byrn, do you teabh the "Big Apple" in the secial dancing
course offered in the University pregram?

No, Mrs. Dart, but I assure you that is not by reason ef any personal
objections en my part, but this omission may be explained by the fact
that a high degree of coordination and skill is required for the execu’
jon ef the figures danced in the "Big Apple," a degree ef skill not
generally possessed by the students enrolled in our beginning and inte.
mediate classes, However, the fundamentals of the waltz and fox trot
previde a basis of fundamental movements which onables the students

te master the more novel steps with comparative eases

However, I have no doubt that the inelusion of the “Big Apple" in the
dance program in many schools would meet with considorable objection.

Yes, that is true, Mrss Darts Ballroom dancing has always been a
subject of great controversy. Surprising as it mayyseom now, the
waltz when it was first introduced te the people of England, was con-
sidered little short of scandalous and excited only disgust and mild
amusement on the part of the lookers-one