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Show 68 THE CODE OF TERPSICHORE. say, that when the left arm is behind, the left leg must be before." Noverre does not, in m y opinion, treat of the opposition with that clearness and exactness which the subject requires ; indeed, few writers have done so. The obscurity, therefore, that has existed on this important particular in dancing, has occasioned it to be an object of continual controversy among professional dancers. Let us endeavour to elucidate it a little. The opposition of one part of a moving solid to another part is a law of equilibrium by which the gravitating powers are divided. This is precisely what Noverre wishes to demonstrate in his example of the gait of a man ; and when he further says that opposition takes place each time that the man or dancer puts one leg forward, he means to point out that if such foot so placed before be the right, the left arm must naturally be carried forward at the same instant, whilst the opposite limbs remain behind; the whole counterpoising the deviation of the body from the central line of gravity. This opposition gives the dancer a very graceful appearance, as he thereby avoids that uniformity of lines in his person so unbecoming a true favourite of Terpsichore. (See examples of opposition, fig. 3, plate I, fig. 4, plate IV, and all the figures of plate VIII.) There are two methods of moving the wrists-upwards and downwards. W h e n the movement is to be made downwards, the wrist must be bent inwards, moving the hand demi-circularly, by which movement the hand returns to its first position; but care must be taken not to bend the wrist too violently, for it would then appear as if broken. With respect to the second movement, which is upwards, the wrist must be bent in a rounded position, allowing the hand to turn upwards, making a demi-tour or half-turn, |
