MISSED THE SATURDAY DANCE No. 234

My wife was asked to lend some roaring twenties style dresses to a friend who was asked to a New Orleans Twenties Dixieland Path. She is a product of the roaring twenties. bat considered too old to participate now that we are in the year 2003. The çxirty is for twenty and thirty year olds and not for mouldy figs.

Contraiy to what they think, she is an agile and swinging dancer and jitter bug and can do the Lindy Hop. Black Bottom Charleston Breakaway, Texas Tommy and other dances of that period.

I contacted the dance school instructor of the Arthur Auderlitz & Fred Murray Academy of Dance if the dance steps of the 20s. 30s & 40s were making a come back with the present generation.

Professor (all music teachers are called Professors) Austerlitz replied,"Yes. We are seeing a revival of the music of that period now referred to as Neo-swing or Retro-swing. Many young people think they have invented the music and dance steps, but others grudgingly acknowledge the contribution of previous generations.

"Can present day venues support the big dance bands of the 20s and 30s? I asked.

"This is the economic problem. Since rock & roll bands of 3 or 4 musicians with 10,000 watt amplifiers can fill a large hail with music, such as it is called, a dance band of 15 to 20 musicians with no amplification is needed for the same coverage. Clubs and dance ball proprietors cannot afford to pay that many performers. The solution might lie in computerization, where each instrument will be wired to sound like), so that only one trumpet, trombone. saxophone etc would be needed, and still give the Sound and illusion of a combined 20 piece band.'

"I understand that both old and new clothing of that period is becoming readily available in shops and selling briskly, along with "spectators", thc black and white wing tip shoes worn by dancers when doing such routines as White Tie, Top Hat & Tails. That it true. And the youngsters are asking glumly what it was like in the good old days', and how to do the dance steps and drink cheap gin. One gmndnia was heard to say. "I guess your clothes are never too old. Hal Ha! To dress up for a costume parrty. Call anytime to borrow sizes 8 to 18"

However, she never left her telephone number."