Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1895 — DANCING. [ARTICLE]

DANCING.

The fackeltanz, or torch dance, Is a survival of the mediaeval processions. It Is still performed In the German courts on the marriage of one of the royal family. The procession marches round the court yard or hall, the dancers bearing torches or candles, and executing various complicated evolutions. The polonaise is of Polish origin. In 1573 Henry 111., of Anjou, was elected King of Poland, and among the ceremonies of his coronation was a stately •march past the throne of afl the nobility. This was the first polonaise, which was never afterward omitted in court ceremonials as long as the Kingdom of Poland existed.

The Roman actors attained wonderful perfection in the ballet about the time of Augustus, and ballet dancing was popular down to the last days of the empire. It was only in the later and more degenerate days that women appeared on the stage, and one ot the most famous ballet dancers was Theodora, afterwards the Empress of the great Justinian. The centre danse, miscalled country dance, is first mentioned in France, was taken to England, improved and reintroduced to the French in 1715, where it became popular. As a form of composition it has been a favorite, Beethoven having written no less than twelve, while Mozart has left a large number, and the contre danse form Is common in Haydn’s symphonies and concert works. Ladies and gentlemen of the French court were encouraged to appear on the stage as dancers, not only by the example of Louts XIV. but by a royal letter patent, In which it was stated that permission was given to “all gentlemen and ladles wishing to sing and dance in ballet, without being considered for that reason to derogate from their titles of nobility, or from their privileges, rights and Immunities.”