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Show 00 BALLET DISPUTES BREAK UP FAMILIES MOSCOW Jan 7 Russia's great est sport the ballet, is threatened with I extinction Thp various municipal so viets are tiring of the deficit which j they have to make up in order to kep the operas and the ballets going Bal j lot and opera alternate in the big thea ,ters. The ballet pays, but doesn't make 1 enough profit to carry the opera and I the great orchestras necessary to sat isf. the music loviug Ittisslanp. Hallerlnes are tho subjects of endless end-less discussion. Families break up over differences about the merits of Smirnova Gel9er Gerdt and others who are now holding the spotlight in Petrograd and Mos cow To a lesser degree the same bat tie rages at Kazan and Kiev and Odes sa Just at the moment Lukem is the hot favorite in I'etrograd and Gel ser in Moscow Youth and beauty do not count with Russian ballet fans It matters not If the ballerina is old. In fact she gen orally has to be fairly mature before she can master the intricate steps upon which Russians give points She ma have inusclea w hich give her the appearance ot a strong lady In the cir 1 11a and still fascinate Russian spec I tators if she can spin fast enough on I her toes and shift 1 1 r weight from lone big toe to the other at Just the mo ment prescribed in the rule9. .i first aoforeigner is inclined to ad-J ad-J mire the beautiful oung neophytes who dance mazourkas, aud have ,. the charm which grace and flowing , w hile robe.- can impart to youth danc ing to the music ol a superb orches tra. That 1s the result of utter ignor -anco. Gelser. ihe- siiongl featured play-!er play-!er of ihe Moscow circuit, recently fell on the stage and had to beat a retreat before catcalls, and howls which made-it made-it Impossible tor lioi lo reappear for a Fortnight. Russian ballet fans are I as merciless as the crowds at a Span ' lsh bull Eight: There are no excuses I'pr failure. 00 record speed of 87 inlles an hour his ben obtained In tobogganing in Sa itxerland. |