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Story
September 10, 1917
The Tacoma Times
Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington
What is this article about?
Tacoma ballrooms expected to feature new dances like jazz, ramble, military walk, and Chinese toddle this fall, but instructor Prof. P.F. Sloan predicts low popularity, as people prefer familiar steps like fox-trot, one-step, and waltz.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
DANCES. TACOMANS WILL TRY OUT THIS FALL
Jazz, ramble, military walk, Chinese toddle!
These are the gaits that will be seen in Tacoma ball rooms this winter.
Ragged fragments of melody by jazz orchestras will set the pace for the frantic antics of St. Vitus dancers, who will gasp frazzled scraps of song with what little breath they have left.
Those who prefer to perambulate more sedately may amble thru the ramble, or stalk in the military walk, or hobble in the toddle, and still be in style.
There is an "If"
These are the most striking of the new dances evolved by the revolving fancies of the dancing-masters for the tripping not only of the light fantastic toe but even more of the clumsy one.
IF!
"There," says Prof. P.F. Sloan, Tacoma instructor in ball-room athletics, "is the point.
"These dances will be taught.
But from experience, I don't believe they will be very popular. Tacoma people have never been extreme in styles of ball-room dancing. And this summer I visited a number of large cities and made it a point to find out how the new dances are taking, and I found that people everywhere else are just about the same.
Novelties Hard to Start
"They prefer to dance the dances they know. There are always some people who try to push a few novelties every season, and some who learn them and like them; but the majority stick to the old steps.
"People will dance to fox-trot and the one-step and the waltz.
That is certain. Whether they will toddle or ramble or do any of these other things is not certain.
"And anyway, the new dances this season are just new combinations of old steps.
The only trouble in learning them is to remember the combination.
"Dancing masters of the northwest get together every fall and discuss the new dances, so that they will be sure that they all teach them alike.
"But after that it's up to the people who dance. And you can't make them dance the new dances if they don't want to."
Dance fans-
These pictures were posed especially for The Times, to illustrate the steps that society will dance this fall.
Study them carefully for grace and poise.
Jazz, ramble, military walk, Chinese toddle!
These are the gaits that will be seen in Tacoma ball rooms this winter.
Ragged fragments of melody by jazz orchestras will set the pace for the frantic antics of St. Vitus dancers, who will gasp frazzled scraps of song with what little breath they have left.
Those who prefer to perambulate more sedately may amble thru the ramble, or stalk in the military walk, or hobble in the toddle, and still be in style.
There is an "If"
These are the most striking of the new dances evolved by the revolving fancies of the dancing-masters for the tripping not only of the light fantastic toe but even more of the clumsy one.
IF!
"There," says Prof. P.F. Sloan, Tacoma instructor in ball-room athletics, "is the point.
"These dances will be taught.
But from experience, I don't believe they will be very popular. Tacoma people have never been extreme in styles of ball-room dancing. And this summer I visited a number of large cities and made it a point to find out how the new dances are taking, and I found that people everywhere else are just about the same.
Novelties Hard to Start
"They prefer to dance the dances they know. There are always some people who try to push a few novelties every season, and some who learn them and like them; but the majority stick to the old steps.
"People will dance to fox-trot and the one-step and the waltz.
That is certain. Whether they will toddle or ramble or do any of these other things is not certain.
"And anyway, the new dances this season are just new combinations of old steps.
The only trouble in learning them is to remember the combination.
"Dancing masters of the northwest get together every fall and discuss the new dances, so that they will be sure that they all teach them alike.
"But after that it's up to the people who dance. And you can't make them dance the new dances if they don't want to."
Dance fans-
These pictures were posed especially for The Times, to illustrate the steps that society will dance this fall.
Study them carefully for grace and poise.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
New Dances
Tacoma Ballrooms
Jazz Dance
Ramble
Fox Trot
Dance Trends
What entities or persons were involved?
Prof. P.F. Sloan
Where did it happen?
Tacoma
Story Details
Key Persons
Prof. P.F. Sloan
Location
Tacoma
Event Date
This Fall And Winter
Story Details
New dances including jazz, ramble, military walk, and Chinese toddle are introduced for Tacoma ballrooms, but instructor Prof. P.F. Sloan believes they will not gain popularity as people prefer traditional dances like fox-trot, one-step, and waltz.