The Los Angeles Times from Los Angeles, California • 30

FEERUARY 16. 1530. PART III. DANCE DEVELOPMENT SEEN ii 1 1 i 1 4'; SUNDAY MORNING. '-in If DANCING AMERICAN GIRLS PRAISED Inventor of "Charleston" and "Black Bottom Says Local Expert 'Asserts Young Women of This Country Naturally Built to Dance In the American girl the world should find its greatest dancers, if the opinion of Muriel Stuart, known both here and on the continent for her work as premiere ballerina with Pavlowa and ballet mistress for "The American girl is naturallyher throughout Europe, and it Is 9, si Holly Wood Causing Great Improvements BY MARY MAYER a a I For yeari chorus Eirla and Broadway have been fts toseparabla as onion soup, or the Smith Brothers Dancers Make Graphic Appeal built to dance," Miss Stuart tTom thls that fine "ds the grea'.

KREUTZBERG AND GEORGI TO APPEAR Impressionistic Dancers Will Give Program at Philharmonic Harald Kreutzberg and Yvonne Georgi, who have enraptured audiences in this country and In Europe with their powerful expressionlstic dances of the modern school, will be seen at the Philharmonic Au-torlum on Tuesday evening. Both of these dancers are of the famous Mary Wigman school of Germany: both worked in the ballets of Berlin and Hanover operas. Kreutzberg's first appearance in this country was made in 1928 when he gained success in Max Relnhardt's New York production of "Midsummer Night's Dream," in which he was engaged to do a pantomime role. Recognizing the unusual qualities of the young dancer, Reinhardt Introduced Kreutzberg as a concert dance artist in one recital. He was instantly acclaimed as a disciple of a radical and distinctly new school of the dance.

Returning this year with Georgi, they have appeared in eight sold-out recitals in New York, and have won popularity wherever they have been seen. They are said to present a graphic stage art irresistible in brilliant and characteristic appeal. Their standards of accurate technique, poignant rhythmic poses, supple bodies and striking facial expres sions are a true impressionistic art of the theater. Their art, although typically modern in form, has a foundation in the classic forms. averred.

"She is perfectly proper the Chicago Civic Opera Company, tioned. If she happens to be 6mall she is small all over. This one seldom finds in European countries. COURAGE STRESSED "Another thing in the American girl's favor as a dancer is her absolute fearlessness. I could ask the members of a class to Jump from any height and land on their toes and I know there would be at least ten out of twelve who would be willing to try it." There is only one thing holding the girls of America back, according to the dancer, and that is their insensate impatience.

"They can't wait," she said. "In Europe one must study several years on 'half-toe' before she Is allowed to do even the primary steps of a toe number. Here, if they aren't doing a dance by the second or third lesson they become discouraged." Muriel Stuart's work has taken art, that it is difficult to attempt a comparison. In place of the concentrated "whoopee" of such numbers as "The Varsity Drag" and "Breakaway," the tiny dancers move with a slow and measured tread-more than a little mechanical Like the American line, however, they are trained to work in perfect uni son. "Our dances are not what one would call 'peppy said Mlchio Ito, who arranged the Japanese plays for American audiences.

"I did, how ever, make them faster so that they would appeal for local consumption. People nere are so accustomed to dancing to jazz that the slow tempo bores them. "Many of the dances used in the production, which will be given its last performance tonight, date back eighteen centuries. "We hold our dances traditional," Ito explained. "That is why the type of Japanese dancing never changes.

Dancing is strictly a family tradition in Japan. Children of dancers become dancers and so DANCING Harold Kreutzberg and Yvonne Georgi Two pupils of Mary Wigman School of Germany, who are to give characteristic program here next Tuesday. BOOM-BOOM, SHE SHOOTS AND HERO STEPS LIVELY inference between the dance schoo there, and those here. RIGID EXAMINATIONS "A dancer must pass the mcsr rigid examinations before a llcens. to teach is issued," she said.

"Sonv of Europe's foremost dance artist -act as judges. Whenever a prominent dance troupe happens to vbit a town wherein dancing schools ar established, those teachers hav the opportunity of presenting their best pupils. If these students aT found worthy they are given award; by the visiting artists." While Muriel Stuart, who is rcw teaching in Los Angeles, bslievf -firmly in the ballet school for th? establishing of perfect dance technique, she has recently become interested in a new type of dancing, "Rhythmic Body Technique," related, in a rather distant manner, to the Mary Wigman impressionistic school of Germany. With improvised music as a background she is said to be accomplishing some interesting results in the new field. on down through the years.

"America is different," he laughed, "one day a saleslady the next day a star." MELTING POT ROLE DISCLOSED IN RECORDS Thirty-seven States and eight foreign countries are represented in the student "melting pot" enrollment at the Major School of Acting, according to Marie Roller, executive secretary. Many prominent families of America are represented among the students. Among the names nationally known are Carol Marmon, daughter of the automobile manufacturer: Alice Calhoun, screen star; Abdo Urban, grand-opera singer. Last year Amy Clapp, daughter of Edwin Clapp, Internationally known writer, was a student. Miss Clapp is now the Princess Domenlco Rosso, living in Sicily, having married an Italian Prince.

vi DRAMA tea? Phone WEstmore S917 SCHOOL OF DANCING 634 Wtst 13 th WEstmoT 9031 director, who has originated a new dance. First the shy little maiden is introduced to the hero. She reacts to his kiss by such blushes I YV K': i Mr. and Mrs. Ernest E.

Ryan Announce a New Adult Beginning Class in Ballroom Dancing Opening Monday, Feb. 17th, at 7:30 Teaching Waltz, Fox-Trot, One-Step and Ballroom Deportment Step and Tap Dancing New Class for Adult Beginner Opens Monday Evening, Feb. 1 7th, at 8 Teaching Tap, Step, Buck, Soft Shoe and Musical Comedy Dancing Private Lessons by Appointment ohe (jrnest dQiaru SCHOOL OF DANCING SHILLAT BRINGS NEW ART TO HOLLYWOOD CHORUS OF JAPAN PLAY DIMINUTIVE Swathed in Costumes of Heavy Materials, Tiny Girls Tread Dances Eight young ladles are visiting here from the land of tea and rice cakes. Every evening they shuffle out of their hotel and down to the Figueroa Playhouse, where they are appearing in the presentation "Samarai and Geisha" and when the evening's performance is over they shuffle out again, swathed in coloilol klmonas. These eight young ladles comprise what would be referred to in English, as the "chorus." One finds it dlficult to believe that these miniature editions of femininity, going through stilt-like gestures behind the footlights, are really alive, and not some carved ivory figures dressed in the golden embroidery of Japan.

It is interesting to contrast this line of eight with the girls who appear nightly on stages through tout America. Wound literally in yards and yards of heavy padded silks-weighted down with elaborate heads of hair highly ornamented with beads and bangles it Is doubtful that any of the chorus girls of our country would be able to drag them selves from tne wings onto tne i stage. Not only does the Japanese chorus girl accomplish this feat but sh manages to twist and turn to the intricate oriental rhythms as well Of course, the dancing of Japan Is so entirely different from the popular American conception of the exuberant dance which ends with more "boom-boom" to the accompaniment of team footwork and back pushing. (Posed by Sally Starr and Eddie Nugent.) Dancing Now Being Taught in Universities A generation ago dancing In educational institutions, particularly as It related to the curriculum, was absolutely taboo. Educators of that day would as soon have thought of instructing their students in betting on horse races or card playing as in Introducing classes in any form of terpsichore.

In view of this situation it Is Interesting to note that dancing is being taught at many Southern California universities and even in the secondary schools. University of Southern California has even gone to. the extent of forming a class in tap dancing. The primary incentive is of course not to develop professional talent, although this possibility is perhaps actuating some of the students taking the work. It is rather with the view that tap dancing develops health, grace and freedom or movement, symmetrical stance and proper carriage.

University of California at Los Angeles and Los Angeles High School have classes in Greek classical dancing, with the objective the same. It is confidently predicted by educators interested in this type of work that the years to come will see every university, college and large high school In California going in for some type of dance instruction and some of these schools presenting an elaborate series of courses that would permit an interested student to keep up some kind of dance instruction through the ordinary four years of a college course. Nautch Dancer Much Overrated, Composer Says The nautch girl has become to be the most romantic figure in the oriental dance world. Americans have conjured her as sloe-eyed, ruby-lipped, chanting bewitching melodies aa her lissome figure weaves in and out among the voluptuous surrounding; of an Indian court. That description Is all right for the fiction writers, but haa little basis for fact, according to Miss Lily Strickland, composer of Indian love lyrics and a student in India for ten years.

The nautch girl Is In reality, Miss Strickland says, overplump, brazen1, coarse, crude and the possessor of a s'rident voice. Her smiles may be meani to be but her are so biwl-nut fhe chvs constr.ntlv, thH the impulses rather than attract the European. There are exceptions, of course. Miss Strickland points out, but they are rare. Thus is another one of the idols of flction-lovine Americans shat- 1 taia and eggs, the Brown Derby and and their cough drops.

Writers the White Way far almost every chorus has come to believe that Broadway But this situation is due lor a change. Authority for the statement Is none other than David Bennett, Inventor of the Charleston and the Black Bottom, and dance director at Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation. Bennett changed his mailing address to Hollywood shortly alter the screen discovered it could talk as well as squawk. Since that time he has been making a serious study of the dancing conditions here, as compared to Broadway. HIS MEAL TICKET As dancing Is his meal ticket, Bennett admits there is nothing particularly philanthropic in the btudy.

Dance direction, as he ses it, is a survival of the fittest. The director who is constantly studying all angles of the game has the best chance to keep his name in filmlands "Who's Who." Therj is one primary reason, Bennett declares, that 1 bound to see Hollywood displace Broadway us the real stamping ground of the chorus glrL That reason is training. "In New York," he rays, "the chorus usually draws ghls who are away from home end in New York ta'galn fame via the stage. They usually arrive wJfo no previous training. The first time they appear in a production one is always on pins and needles prayinpr that they won't fall over the footlights into the orchestra pit.

"Here it is entirely different. When a girl is about 11 years of ago the California mother decides upon three things. Either daughter is to become a secretary, a school teacher or a dancer. I seldom get these girls until they ate sixteen. By that time they have had four years of preparatory work, and have been around a stage long enough at least to know that a border doesn't necessarily something to do with Tta Juena, i cr that when we mention an arc we aren't talking about Noah's houseboat.

According to Bennett's classification there are, fundamentally, ten different dance classifications. These are tap, toe, soft shoe, buck and wing, eccentric, acrobatic, old-fashioned, character, Spanish end bajlroom. To qualtfy for a position in. the Paramount line a girl is required to be master of at least seven of these without requiring first aid frcrn a ciiliww actor. The line girl of today.

Bennett declares, has to be a better dancer than the leads of several years ago. NOT ALL HOSES Although David Bennett held the hopor of being one of New York's foremost musical comedy dance directors and creators and had eleven-' different shows rur.nira on Bmadway at the same time he admits to some uncomfortable moments when he first took it upon him.seif to stage dancs3 for the camera. In the first place, the eye is capable of spanning a distance of 120 test straight ahead while the best a -camera can do is eighty. Although this constituted a real problem at first. Bennett rm now evolved a system whereby he can stase an elaborate revue and still kctp the girls within shooting dis-' tence of the camera lens.

No sooner was this remedied than he discovered that, for a picture, it was necessary to change steps a greater number of times thfln for the stage. The rapidity with which the camera moved the customary eight-bar change look like constant repetition. Now his routines are ovcd with a change eve'-y four bars. 'But the v.xrk of David Bennett does not stop with supervising the ensemble behavior of a line of chorus girls. In odd moments he must lurk around corners ever on the watch for that illusive something called.

"Inspiration," all of which will lead to new tog ticklers for the dance world. Not so long ago he devised two sure-fire hits in the "Charleston and the Black Bottnn. The Charleston he copied directly from this negroes of the South. The uck Bottom, however, came from (J-lon. ONE TO BE QUEEN The circumstances surrounding th occasion at 2 interesting.

A ncitx devoted to pearl Giving wa, progress and girl divers were rcmpcting for the honor of the day's largest catch, the winner to be queen at a dance that evening. Brjinett happened to be among the Invested spectators. The curious rhythm of the tom-tom beats at the dance that evening appealed to niui, and he hurriedly scratched tne tempo in his notebook, then he returned to New York he collaborated with some well-kiwwn song writers, and the "Tftem Tom-Tom" number from "ftse Marie" rns the result. The cbprus routine to this composition vi the nuclcua ot the dance so fafilllav today. rennet is now busy on a new catch number, "Dancing to Save Your Sole." which promises to run hji recently completed "Prep Step," a.

lose race for popularity. It follows the accepted off-beat formula wlllch has become such a rage in the past few seasons. 'It will be a long time before this 'off-beat' craze dies," Bennett said. "I think that the fast offbeat danoea are fading, however. The slow dances are comlne back, artd in the very near future." "According to Bennett the dances morrow will be the waltz and ths tano, don? to off-brrt tempo.

LANCER SIGNS FOR LESLIE PRODUCTION News comes from Paris that Ar-geritinita, Spanish dancer, has sailed toj'Joln Leslie's "International Re-vu" in New York, signed at J3000 a week through Henri Lartigue. This additional salary is said to place ii6 overhead on the revue at week. Is not to be? cm-f 1 vlth Argsnflna. another 3.J3.1-i tuueer iwv touring, the ij in concert. 'Argcntinita pets only $1200 but she has the same aver-; ion ti orean travel as Itaqud Mt l-Jer, Lartigue had to go to Madrid nd argue with hrr to make the trip.

is country over have picited tne uay girl story ever written, and the world the chorus girls' natural naoitau Protest Made Against New York Ruling Strenuous protests are being lodged in New York City by concert dancers regarding the law which prohibits their performance on Sunday. As a contrast, they point out that vaudeville and motion-picture houses run unmolested on the Sabbath with their programs liberally besprinkled with dancT ing. Oddly enough, Sunday has, in days past, been universally accepted as the one day of the week most suitable for the presentation of a concert-dance program. The first step in breaking' away from the accepted Sunday dance concert was taken by the Dance Repertory Theater which discovered, much to its surprise, that the public would attend midweek presentations. European artists, visiting the United States, fill the theaters regardless of what day they choose to perform.

New York concert dancers have two plans at the present time. The first is to organize a committee to have the law repealedthe second to provide ways and means for the artists to present their programs on week days. New Yorkers believe that while the first would bring more Immediate relief--the second would be of more lasting benefit, as it has long been a lamented fact that concert dancing has been reserved exclusively to Sundays. Not only are the dancers interested in the outcome of the problem but the theaters, involved as they are with prologues, are also pricking up their ears at any rumor. Dance Club Suggested Tire development of Los Angeles and Hollywood as the center of professional dancing, due, of course, to the increasing opportunities for dancing in the film studios, seeim to warrant the establishment of a dancers' club.

Precedent for such an organization can be found in New York City, where a similar club flourishes and has its own commodious building on West Fifty-sixth street. The New York club was founded with the idea of establishing "New York headquar- ters, both business and social, for men and women identified with the art of the dance, either as professionals, teachers or students." The building Includes a dining-room, reception hall, practice studio, library and living quarters for a limited number of young women. In addition to this, members receive special rates on medical and dental sen-ice, and in many cases clothing, theater and concert tickets. The cost for rooms and meals is relatively small. In addition to all this, a fund has been established for the emergency assistance of sick or incapacitated members.

One of the features of the club is their weekly teas, at which time prominent people in the art world, are invited as guests of honor. Playhouse and Dancing; Now that the Little Theater movement has become an established factor throughout California, it seems that some of the dance enthusiasts should consider the possibility of establishing a community playhouse dedicated to dancing. The recent appearance here of La Argentina proved, beyond a doubt, the interest of theatergoers In some of the more artistic phases of Terpsichore. The establishment of such an organization would tend toward bringing forth one of the most vital factors in any art origin-uality. Here new dance ideas and forms could be introduced and experimented with.

Here the seldom presented "dance drama" could -be standardized Into a popular form of entertainment. Such a theater would, necessarily, bring about a higher and finer quality of dance presentation. In addition to its artistic benefits, however, it would offer a vast opportunity to students of tile dance particularly those pupils who seek concert, rather than musical-comedy careers. There would undoubtedly be created the spirit of competition, which makes for superior performances. The Neighborhood Theater, as well as the Dance Repertory, of New York, have already made definite strides ahead in this line.

Device Meters Dancing In the ballet sequences of Buster Keaton's starring feature, "On the Set," the dance director for Metro-Goldwyn Mayer used a new device, the "dance meter" as a renearsal aid to keep the ballet figures definitely in position for various and' sundry camera angles and figures. The "dance meter" is the invention of Peverill Marley, cameraman. This mechanical device measures and focuses dance steps in the camera lens. In addition to keeping the dance formation In position, It enables the cameraman to know the extent of the tiniest movement on his film. The apparatus consists of a large metal hoop, marked so the start and stop of a dancing movement may be re- crrded.

It extends out from th3 camera cart on a rod marked In measurements. The danrers dance within this ring, which is kept out of camera range. Different points in the number are designated by different measurements on the ring. a 1500 South Figueroa Street BY POPULAR DEMAND ANOTHER NEW TAP DANCINGA CLASS FOR ADULT BEGINNERS I STARTS THIS FEB. 19th.

7 P.M. A It Costs No More to Study in America's Foremost Studios You Will lie Delighted With the Refined and Luxurious Appointments Other New Classes for Adults nnd Children in American Ballet, Acrobatic, Limbering and Stretching. EARLE WALLACE Studios of Stage Dancing Belmont Theater Vermont at First. Phone EX. 1196.

mm SI Modern dancing doesn't consist of Just shuffling along to the tune of the music, according to Sammy Lee, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer dance if Young Artiste to Make Debut on Continent while most dancers go to New York for their debut, Inez Berkcy plans to be a little different and will go to London for her first pro fesslonal performance. Miss Berkey, a 5-year pupil of Ernest Belcher, is just now putting the finishing touches on her work and expects to sail for the contl nent during the summer months. If she succeeds in Europe she will fol low in the footsteps of several oth er Belcher dancers "who have at talned notable success abroad. These artists Include Georgia Graves, now In the Folles Bergere. Paris; Mil dred Burns, who has been dancing in continental Europe, and June and John Roper, who have been appearing in Cochran's Revue, London.

Beth Berl and Dorothy Walker are the other Belcher dancers who have successfully appeared in Europe. NEW CHORUS WILL SING "HIAWATHA" On the anniversary of Longfellow's birthday, the 27th for the first time in the city of Las Ange les, "Hiawatha's Departure," as immortalized in music by Coleridge- Taylor, will be sung by a new chorus of fifty fresh well-trained voices un der the direction of E. Earle Blake- slee in the Music Salon of the Bllt- more Hotel under the management of Mae Norton. Under the sponsorship of the Zoellner Conservatory of Music and the leadership of Mr. Biakeslee, this new Zoellner-Blakeslee Concert Choir will moke its debut in pic turesque Indian costume.

Since coming to California thir teen years ago Mr. Biakeslee has become widely known not only as a conductor, but as a composer. From his pen came the annual pageant, The First Callfornians," presented each year at Ontario, and also "The Legend of Wewahste," an Indian opera which won the acclaim of both the public and musical authorities. COLORED TENOR SINGS HEBE ONCE Roland Hayes, celebrated colored tenor, will sing at the Philharmonic Auditorium March 8. The announce ment is made by Ruth Cowan that this will be the only appearance of the famous singer in the city this season.

Following an extensive tour of Austria, Germany, France and Spain last spring and the post fall, Hayes returned to America for his sixth transcontinental tour, which includes concert appearances in fifty cf the leading cities In- the nited States. Both here and abroad Rolard Havej continues to sing to capacity auaiences. FRENCH SOXGS Mmei Lucia Pctit-Clerc is to give lecture-musical on folk songs of France on Tuesday afternoon at the Ambassador under the auspice of i t- that she turns her back to the audience. Then, in a coy mood, she turns and gives him a playful "boom-boom" with her imaginary gun. They then fall into a gay, x'r; -'(.

to traying of human characters with animal characteristics. The sneaky, shifty eyes of the rat, for example, make an excellent trait to bestow upon an Apache. This artist has come to Hollywood, where, he believes, the screen, will give him greater opportunity to enlarge upon his characterizations. The stags allowed only the broad gestures. Any of the finer points, such as expression of the eyes, were lost.

This, however, will show up to good advantage before the camera, he believes. i i Shillat has perfected twelve dialects which he utes in his characterizations, among them Marsian. GIGLI SIGNS The seizure of concert and opera singers goes on apace. Now it is Benlamino Glgll who has signed for pictures. He will begin his work on the lot next September after his scflson of opera with the Los Angeles and San Francisco companies.

JERITEA BVCli Maria Jeritzli. the bcauinil blond soprano of the Metropolitan. Is looking toward California again and it is probable that- she1 -Will sing "The Girl ot the Golden West" here. It is an interesting fact that this Belaseo play had its state rire- mlere te Los i i. H' 'MA 17 BALLET and TAP Clau.t tor B.ginn.rt and Advanced Stud.nU Now Storting Enroll NOW A new, and extremely Interesting character has come to Hollywood.

He is Otar Shlllat, known the country over for the study and creation of animal characterizations. It was eight years ago that Shll-lat, a dance' of Cleveland, first hit rpon the idea of interpreting various beasts and fowls. It was while he was posing for the celebrated sculptor, Herman Matson's, statue of Pan, and Matson, noting the remarkable talent of the dancer Ik' 0. I 3- FAMOUS BALLET MASTER First Teaching Engagement in Los Angeles Four Weeks, March 3 to 29 Norma Gould School of the Dance, 118 North Larchmont. HE.

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to, SCHOOL OF ACTING Otar Shillat In Characteristic Pose HOLLYWOOD COMMUNITY THEATRE SCIIOOI. Director Stage Talking Picture Dancing Studenta given opportunity for Profesalenal appearance. 1731 North Bronson lth Year HE. 1471; HE. 5279 THE WESTERN ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ART FORMERLY MILLIARD ICHO0L Of DRAMA Mrfiral Bmey TuttSi.

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S. for throwing himself Into the char acter, suggested that he enter into the field seriously. Shillat's first step was to make a study of the various animal and fowl characteristics ani expressions! Here he found that only one or two distinguish one animal or fowl from another and the rest are identical. The different expressions he carefully catalogued, and now combines in dances, songs and characterizations. These characterizations, howevrr.

not to be confused with linprr- sor.atiOiis. since Shillat roes no. walk on all fours representing, for example, a When a certain character requires It. however, Shillat does use the various methods in which a dog carries its head. Shfflaf srtv fcl thorty Is the por- HE Katharine B.

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