The Art of Stage Dancing

Part 1

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The Art of Stage Dancing.

THE ART OF

STAGE DANCING

The Story of a Beautiful and Profitable Profession

A MANUAL

STAGE-CRAFT

NED WAYBURN

Price $5.00

NEW YORK

The Ned Wayburn Studios of Stage Dancing, Inc. PUBLISHERS

Copyright, 1925, by

NED WAYBURN STUDIOS OF STAGE DANCING, INC.

Made in U.S.A.

GREETINGS!

Someway I don't care for the word "Preface." As I think the matter over, I'm not sure that I ever read a preface to any book; and this fact suggests to me that possibly others would pass by this page in my book if I dubbed it by that much-worn and very trite word. So I've hailed you all with a much more cheery and stimulating title for my opening page; and perhaps, in consequence, some may read it.

My Greetings are specially extended to certain chosen groups of people: First, to all students of the past, the present, and those hoped for in the future; second, to the hundreds of teachers of the art of dancing who esteem my original methods of instruction sufficiently to care about what I may print on the subject; and third, to a public that has sat "in front" at any or many of my productions, and enjoyed them, and is, in consequence, interested to know something about the hard work, the thought and the skill, necessary to bring about such pleasing results.

Lest so narrow a limit to my Greetings may be misunderstood, on second thought I will extend my Greetings to that world of people who love life and beauty and happiness; who appreciate honest effort to make living more enjoyable and brighter; who love laughter and smiles and the good things that go with them.

And if all that kind of people will read and appreciate my book, I shall not miss the others.

But still, to them, as well as to you, I extend

Greetings!

NED WAYBURN

An Apology

As a writer of books, I confess myself to be a good stage craftsman.

I have never before attempted authorship, and this volume is simply a spontaneous outpouring of my personal love and knowledge of a great art that has filled my years with joy and happiness, and some renown in the theatrical world.

To have been one modest part of an instrument that has piped to pleasure many millions of my fellows, is surely justification for personal satisfaction. How this playing has been done, how it is being done today in greater degree than ever before, is what I have in mind to tell a curious public.

And so I became an author for this once, and what you may discover that I lack in literary ability, let me trust you will find compensated for in the plainness and simplicity of the facts, incidents and reminiscences that I relate. If not the manner, at least the matter is worthy of your approval.

My story is presented in the first person, and this is because I find it easiest to write from a personal viewpoint--not, I hope, as the result of any special desire to see the letter I in print. A more experienced author would be able to write this book with less suggestion of ego in its pages, I have little doubt, and so I have called this explanatory word An Apology that you may understand why things are as they are, and not demand of the tyro the same quality of literary excellence that you would be justified in expecting of the better qualified writer.

Part 2

To paraphrase one of my earliest school-boy speeches,--"If this be an apology, make the most of it."

CONTENTS

Page

A Bit of Ancient History 19

Modern Stage Dancing 23

Ned Wayburn--An Inspiration 27

The Ned Wayburn Method of Training 42

Ned Wayburn Stage Dances 57

Ned Wayburn's Foundation Technique 62

Mr. Wayburn Addresses the Beginners' Class in Foundation Technique 75

Ned Wayburn's Musical Comedy Dancing 83

Mr. Wayburn Addresses a Class in Musical Comedy Dancing 90

Ned Wayburn's Tap and Step Dancing (Clogging) 97

Mr. Wayburn Addresses a Class in Tap and Step Dancing 103

Ned Wayburn's Acrobatic Dancing 108

Mr. Wayburn Addresses a Class in Acrobatic Dancing 115

Ned Wayburn's Modern Americanized Ballet Technique 121

Terms Used in Ned Wayburn's Modern Americanized Ballet Technique 130

Mr. Wayburn Addresses the Beginners' Class in Ballet Technique 132

Ned Wayburn's Toe Dancing 137

Ned Wayburn's Specialty Dancing 141

Ned Wayburn's Exhibition Dancing 144

Ned Wayburn's Professional Stage Makeup 146

Stage Costumes 165

Dancing Tempos 169

Diet and Dancing 178

Dancing and Good Health 195

Showmanship 198

Part 3

"Who's Who" in the Show 203

Professional Coaching and Producing for Amateur Entertainments 216

Private Instruction 239

Experience 241

Inspiration 246

Atmosphere 251

Dancing Children 254

Dancing Hands 259

Dancing Feet 262

Dancing Shoes 265

The Quest of Beauty 270

Who's Afraid! (Stage Fright) 273

The Dance and the Drama 278

Personality in the Dance 280

Dancing and Ease of Manner 284

Dancing and Civilization 286

Dancing and Cheerfulness 290

Dancing and Country Life 293

Dancing as a Social Accomplishment 297

Universal Appreciation of the Dance 299

The Melting Pot of the Dance 301

Your Opportunities 303

Stage-craft 307

Making a Name 317

Forms of Stage Contracts 327

LIST OF HALFTONE PLATES

All portraits are of artists whose careers have been directed by Ned Wayburn.

All stage scenes are of productions staged by Ned Wayburn.

Part 4

All interior views are of classrooms and other departments of the Ned Wayburn Studios of Stage Dancing, Inc., 1841 Broadway (at Columbus Circle), entrance on 60th Street, New York City.

Photographs used by courtesy of Art Studios and Art Photographers whose names are appended.

* * * * *

Ned Wayburn (White Studio, N.Y.).

Gilda Gray and Ned Wayburn Pupils in "It's Getting Darker on Broadway," Follies of 1922.

One View of Grand Ball Room in Ned Wayburn Studios.

Lace Ballet, Follies of 1922.

The Fairbanks Twins, in the "Follies," and Stars of "Two Little Girls in Blue" (White Studio, N.Y.).

Oscar Shaw, Featured with "Good Morning, Dearie," "The Music Box Revue," "Two Little Girls in Blue," etc. (White Studio, N.Y.).

Dolly Sisters, Internationally Famous Musical Comedy Stars (Alfred Cheney Johnston, N.Y.).

One of over Twenty Daily Dancing Classes at the Ned Wayburn Studios.

Vivienne Segal, Prima Donna of the "Follies" and many other Musical Comedies, Featured in Light Opera (White Studio, N.Y.).

Paulette Duval and Ned Wayburn Pupils, Follies of 1923.

Class in Dancing Foundation Technique at the Ned Wayburn Studios.

Louise Groody, Featured with "Good Morning, Dearie," "No, No, Nanette," etc. (White Studio, N.Y.).

Partial View of Demi-Tasse Theatre, Ned Wayburn Studios.

Conditioning Class in the Ned Wayburn Studios.

The Astaires, Fred and Adele, Featured in "Lady, Be Good!" in America, and in "Stop Flirting," London (White Studio, N.Y.).

Cecil Lean, Featured in "No, No, Nanette," "The Time, the Place and the Girl," "The Blue Paradise," etc. (Apeda, N.Y.).

Scene from "Ned Wayburn's Symphonic Jazz Revue."

Ann Pennington, Star Dancer with the "Follies" (Alfred Cheney Johnston, N.Y.).

Private Lockers in Dressing Rooms.

The Three Reillys, Alice, Gracie and Johnny, Remarkable Tap Dancers (White Studio, N.Y.).

Acrobatic Dancing Practice at the Ned Wayburn Studios.

Evelyn Law, Principal Dancer in the "Follies," and "Louie the Fourteenth" (White Studio, N.Y.).

Lina Basquette, Premiere Dancer in the "Follies," and other Musical Productions (White Studio, N.Y.).

Marion Chambers, Premiere Dancer in "Poppy," and in Ned Wayburn Productions (White Studio, N.Y.).

"The Birth of Venus." A Ned Wayburn Pantomime Presented in Leading Motion Picture and Vaudeville Theatres.

Part 5

Virginia Bacon, Vaudeville Dancing Star, and with Ned Wayburn Productions (Young and Carl, Cincinnati).

Gilda Gray, Dancing Star, Who Made Her Biggest Success with the "Follies." (Alfred Cheney Johnston, N.Y.).

Maurice, Internationally Known Exhibition Dancer (Ira L. Hill, N.Y.).

The Ned Wayburn Professional Stage Makeup Box and Outfit.

Mary Eaton, Premiere Dancer with the "Follies," and co-starred in "Kid Boots" (White Studio, N.Y.).

Class in Stage Makeup at the Ned Wayburn Studios.

One Hundred Thousand Dollars' Worth of Dancing Costumes are Immediately Available.

Corner of the Wardrobe Department.

Mildred Leisy, recently with Geraldine Farrar's Operatic Fantasie, "Carmen"; wearing type of costume favored for Ballet practice.

Polly Archer, late with the "Follies," wearing type of costume (bathing suit) preferred for Limbering and Stretching and Acrobatic Dancing.

Olive Brady, with "Ned Wayburn's Honeymoon Cruise," dressed in special practice romper, designed by Ned Wayburn, recommended for use in all dancing classes except the Ballet.

Scene from "Ned Wayburn's Honeymoon Cruise."

Frances White, Featured with the "Follies," "Midnight Frolics," Vaudeville, etc. (White Studio, N.Y.).

Group of Ned Wayburn Show Girls, Follies of 1922.

Ann Constance, with "Greenwich Village Follies," and Famous Players Pictures (Showing Her Physical Condition Before and After She Entered the Ned Wayburn Studios) (Edward Thayer Monroe, N.Y.)

Helen Fables, Vaudeville Dancing Star, and with Ned Wayburn Productions (White Studio, N.Y.).

W.C. Fields, Featured with the "Follies," "The Ham Tree," etc. (White Studio, N.Y.).

Ray Dooley, Featured with the "Follies," "Hitchy Koo," etc. (White Studio, N.Y.).

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