Scrolling through The Art of Dancing (1919) on Forgotten Books, I came across a quaint-sounding exercise, Basic Hawaiian Arm and Italian Body Exercises Combined To Promote Arm and Body Grace. If it hadn’t had such an exotic title, I wouldn’t have stayed on the page long enough to notice the fact that under the title was the indication
Music: Wailana Waltz…………..Victor Record No. 17767-B
Possibly, just possibly, I thought, someone out there has uploaded a digital version of this record. Within seconds, I found it:
There are a million reasons to be excited by the internet, but this kind of thing is top of my list. You can have a pretty good go at re-living the sensory experience of a dance class of nearly a century ago. Just put on the Wailana Waltz and follow the instructions. Maybe close the curtains first.
