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Show 52 THE CODE OF TERPSICHORE. little reason to expect to attain excellence in your profession without study, industry, and perseverance. " Non giova che tu sia bello e leggiadro: Sotto quel bello son bruttezze ascose." RICCOBONI. Particularly attend to the carriage of your body and arms. Let their motions be easy, graceful, and always in accordance with those of the legs. Display your form with taste and elegance ; but beware of affectation. In the lecon3 and exercices pay an equal regard to both legs, lest the execution of the one surpass that of the other. I have seen many dance with one leg only ; these I compare to painters that can draw figures but on one side. Dancers and painters of such limited talent are certainly not to be considered as good artists. Take especial care to acquire perpendicularity and an exact equilibrium. In your performance be correct, and very precise; in your steps, brilliant and light; in every attitude, natural and elegant. A good dancer ought always to serve for a model to the sculptor and painter. This is perhaps the acme of perfection and the goal that all should endeavour to reach4. Throw a sort of aban. don into your positions, groups and arabesques5; let your countenance be animated and expressive; siano le attitudini degli uomini con le loro membra in tal modo dis-poste, che con quelle si dimostri I'intenzione del loro animo6. These words of the great Leonard should be as deeply engraved in the memory of the mimic and dancer as in that of the painter. " Les gestes et les pas d'un mutuel accord Peignent (de I'&me) la m e m e ivresse et le m e m e transport." DORAT. Be vigorous, but avoid stiffness; seek to acquire a facility of spring, that your entrechats may be easy, precise, and well crossed. Rapidity is also very pleasing in a |