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Show 60 THE CODE OF TERPSICHORE. Dancers who have not a natural elasticity, or whose calves are weak in muscle, are compelled to have recourse to their insteps, which make amends in a great measure for the debility of other parts, but not without an immense deal of practice. Daily exercise gives them also vigour and rapidity; but let them beware of interrupting their endeavours, as they would then be of no avail. Let your openings be easy,' precise, and elegant. Many dancers imagine that nothing further is required to be liant et moelleux than to bend their knee very low; but this is a great error, as too low a bend makes the dance appear dry and insipid. You may be very easy and yet jerk your body at every movement, no less by bending too much, than by not bending at all. The reason is obvious, if we consider how subordinate every motion in dancing is to music. For when the bend is too low, and therefore longer in performing than the time of the tune allows, you are obliged to make a sudden spring, or rather jerk, to regain the air which you have for a few instants lost, and this rapid transition from flexion to tension is extremely harsh, and produces an effect equally as disagreeable to the spectator, as that which results from stiffness. " The moelleux depends in a great degree on a proportionate flexion of the knees, but the instep must contribute, by its elasticity, to the gracefulness of the movement, and the loins serve as a kind of counterpoise to the frame, which the spring of the instep raises or lets down, with softness and elegance, the whole being in perfect accord and harmony." Let all your openings be consistent with established precept, and in their design strictly uniform with the position of your body and arms. If your bust is very long, try to raise your legs higher than common rules prescribe ; if very short, keep them |