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Show 110 THE CODE OF TERPSICHORE. parents, thinking I possessed some natural disposition for the art, and wishing to accelerate my progress, placed me in the hands of M. Dutarque, a ballet-master. No sooner did I begin studying under the directions of that artist, who had been educated in the best schools, and had already distinguished himself as a first-rate dancer, than I was obliged to learn all over again, and forget what I had previously acquired. I found in him a very different method of demonstrating, and the art of dancing appeared to me altogether in a new light. I discovered in its cultivation a seductive charm, accompanied, however, by increasing difficulties ; but the manner in which he instructed me to surmount every obstacle, encouraged me to proceed with redoubled ardour, and strengthened me in the hope that my endeavours would not prove entirely fruitless. Several tours, which I afterwards made through some of the principal cities, such as Marseilles, Bordeaux, & c * afforded m e further acquirements and a more extended knowledge of my profession. It was at the Opera of Paris, that I first saw to what degree of perfection the art of dancing was carriedt. M . Gardel, the first among modern orchesographers, showed me, in his various productions, the richest beauties of the ait. Encouraged and assisted by his advice it was, that I danced at the Royal Academy of Music. 14. Vide-Appendix. 15. 1 am acquainted with a master of great repute in Paris, who has the defect of teaching men and women to dance after the same manner, so that all his pupils have a certain air of affectation, by no means pleasing to the eye of a person of taste. * Bordeaux is the next town in France, after Paris, for the performance grand theatrical ballets. Its superb theatre has always possessed good composers, and has even supplied the Opera of Paris with many an excellent dancer. In the last few years, this theatre has produced three or four dancers who have held, and still hold the first rank at the Royal Academy of Music. It was said in a newspaper, relating to m y debuts at the Opera, " The theatre of Bordeaux seems destined to furnish our boards with dancers." A provincial paper said about thesame time, " Our grand Theatre of Bordeaux appears henceforth to be the last step to that Olympus (the Opera)." I mention this in honour of the Bordeaux Theatre, which at this present time reckons on its stage several capital dancers, under the direction of M. Blache, one of our best ballet-masters. f It is very requisite for a young dancer to spend a little time at the schools of Paris; it is there, if any where, that he will be able to make himself perfect. |