| OCR Text |
Show 10 THE CODE OF TERPSICHORE. well knew how advantageous it was to him to afford them amusement. The primitive Romans called dancing Sal-tatio, and the Greeks, Orchesis. Salius, an Arcadian, was the first w ho taught the former the Ars Saltationis. With them, therefore, the original dance was the Salian, which consisted in the imitation of all the gestures and motions that man can possibly make. In this class of gymnastics, the mimicks and buffoons usually exercised themselves. According to the information we derive from such authors as have treated of the dances of their times, I am of opinion that this Saltation, properly so called, must have been something very similar to the grotesque kind of performance so prevalent in Italy, a few years ago, but which seems at present almost banished from the theatres of that country. The Italian grotesque is nothing but leaps, tumbling, feats of strength, &c. and cannot be endured except in ballets of the burlesque and extravagant kind. Marino describes a grotesque actor \a the following manner:- " One who ventures on prodigious exertions, so extraordinary, and so dangerous, that they inspire at once both horror and admiration V The corruption that had crept into the theatrical exhibitions of ancient Rome, induced Trajan to forbid them entirely; in consequence of which they were for awhile abandoned. Some time after that emperor's death, they again made their appearance, but still accompanied with the same obscenities, to which they owed their decline. The christian pontiff's, therefore, followed the example of Trajan by prohibiting them again. At length, after a lapse of some ages, modern Italy brought forth Bergonzo di Botta, the reviver of dancing, music, and histrionic diversions. He signalized himself in |
