Enquire Within Upon Everything Part 24

The gentleman takes the lady's left hand with his right, moving one bar to the left by _glissade_, and two hops on his left foot, while the lady does the same to the right, on her right foot; at the second bar they repeat the same with the other foot--this is repeated for sixteen bars; they then waltz sixteen bars, _glissade_ and two hops, taking care to occupy the time of two bars to get quite round. The gentleman now takes both hands of the lady, and makes the grand square--moving three bars to his left--at the fourth bar making two beats while turning the angle; his right foot is now moved forward to the other angle three bars--at the fourth, beat again while turning the angle; the same repeated for sixteen bars--the lady having her right foot forward when the gentleman has his left toot forward; the waltz is again repeated; after which several other steps are introduced, but which must needs be seen to be understood.

149. Circular Waltz.

The dancers form a circle, then promenade during the introduction--all waltz sixteen bars--set, holding partner's right hand, and turn--waltz thirty-two bars--rest, and turn partners slowly--face partner and cha.s.sez to the right and left--pirouette lady twice with the right hand, all waltz sixteen bars--set and turn--all form a circle, still retaining the lady by the right hand, and move round to the left, sixteen bars--waltz for finale.

150. Polka Waltzes.

The couples take hold of hands as in the usual waltz.

_First Waltz_. The gentleman hops the left foot well forward, then hack; and _glissades_ half round. He then hops the right foot forward and back, and _glissades_ the other half round. The lady performs the same steps, beginning with the right foot.

_Second._ The gentleman, hopping, strikes the left heel three times against the right heel, and then jumps half round on the left foot; he then strikes the right heel three times against the left, and jumps on the right foot, completing the circle. The lady does the same steps with reverse feet.

_Third._ The gentleman raises up the left foot, steps it lightly on the ground forward, then strikes the right heel smartly twice, and _glissades_ half round. The same is then done with the other foot. The lady begins with the right foot.

151. Valse a Deux Temps.

This waltz contains, like the common waltz, three times, but differently divided. The first time consists of a gliding step; the second a cha.s.sez, including two times in one. A cha.s.sez is performed by bringing one leg near the other, then moving it forward, backward, right, left, and round. The gentleman begins by sliding to the left with his left foot, then performing a cha.s.sez towards the left with his right foot without turning at all during the first two times. He then slides backwards with his right leg, turning half round; after which he puts his left leg behind, to perform a cha.s.sez forward, turning then half round for the second time. The lady waltzes in the same manner, except that the first time she slides to the right with the right foot, and also performs the cha.s.sez on the right, and continues the same as the gentleman, except that she slides backwards with her right foot when the gentleman slides with his left foot to the left; and when the gentleman slides with his right foot backwards, she slides with the left foot to the left. To perform this waltz gracefully, care must be taken to avoid jumping, but merely to slide, and keep the knees slightly bent.

[AVERAGE WEIGHT OF MAN'S BRAIN, 3-1/2LBS, WOMAN'S 2LBS. 11OZ.]

152. Circa.s.sian Circle.

The company is arranged in couples round the room--the ladies being placed on the right of the gentlemen,--after which, the first and second couples lead off the dance.

_Figure._ Eight and left, set and turn partners--ladies' chain, waltz.

At the conclusion, the first couple with fourth, and the second with the third couple, recommence the figure,--and so on until they go completely round the circle, when the dance is concluded.

153. Polka.

In the polka there an but two princ.i.p.al steps, all others belong to fancy dances, and much mischief and inconvenience is likely to arise from their improper introduction into the ball-room.

_First step._ The gentleman raises the left foot slightly behind the right, the right foot is then hopped with, and the left brought forward with a glissade. The lady commences with the right, jumps on the left, and glissades with the right. The gentleman during his step has hold of the lady's left hand with his right.

_Second step._ The gentleman lightly hops the left foot forward on the heel, then hops on the toe, bringing the left foot slightly behind the right. He then glissades with the left foot forward; the same is then done, commencing with the right foot. The lady dances the same step, only beginning with the right foot.

There are a variety of other steps of a fancy character, but they can only be understood with the aid of a master, and even when well studied, must be introduced with care. The polka should be danced with grace and elegance, eschewing all _outre_ and ungainly steps and gestures, taking care that the leg is not lifted too high, and that the dance is not commenced in too abrupt a manner. Any number of couples may stand up, and it is the privilege of the gentleman to form what figure he pleases, and vary it as often as his fancy and taste may dictate.

_First Figure._ Four or eight bars are devoted to setting forwards and backwards, turning from and towards your partner, making a slight hop at the commencement of each set, and holding your partner's left hand; you then perform the same step (forwards) all round the room.

_Second Figure._ The gentleman faces his partner, and does the same step backwards all round the room, the lady following with the opposite foot, and doing the step forwards.

_Third Figure._ The same as the second figure, only reversed, the lady stepping backwards, and the gentleman forwards, always going the same way round the room.

_Fourth Figure._ The same step as figures two and three, but turning as in a waltz.

[MAN'S HEART BEATS 92,160 TIMES IN A DAY.]

154. The Gorlitza

is similar to the polka, the figures being waltzed through.

155. The Schottische.

The gentleman holds the lady precisely as in the polka. Beginning with the left foot, he slides it forward, then brings up the right foot to the place of the left, slides the left foot forward, and springs or hops on this foot. This movement is repeated to the right. He begins with the right foot, slides it forward, brings up the left foot to the place of the right foot, slides the right foot forward again, and hops upon it. The gentleman springs twice on the left foot, turning half round; twice on the right foot; twice _encore_ on the left foot, turning half round; and again twice on the right foot, turning half round. Beginning again, he proceeds as before. The lady begins with the right foot, and her step is the same in principle as the gentleman's. Vary, by a _reverse turn_; or by going in a straight line round the room. Double, if you like, each part, by giving four bars to the first part, and four bars to the second part. The _time_ may be stated as precisely the same as in the polka; but let it not be forgotten that _La Schottische_ ought to be danced _much slower_.

156. Country Dances. _Sir Roger de Coverley_.

First lady and bottom gentleman advance to centre, salute, and retire; first gentleman and bottom lady, same. First lady and bottom gentleman advance to centre, turn, and retire; first gentleman and bottom lady the same. Ladies promenade, turning off to the right down the room, and back to places, while gentlemen do the same, turning to the left; top couple remain at bottom; repeat to the end of dance.

157. La Polka Country Dances.

All form two lines, ladies on the right, gentlemen on the left.

_Figure_. Top lady and second gentleman heel and toe (polka step) across to each other's place--second lady and top gentleman the same. Top lady and second gentleman retire back to places--second lady and top gentleman the same. Two couples polka step down the middle and back again--two first couples polka waltz. First couple repeat with the third couple, then with fourth, and so on to the end of dance.

158. The Highland Reel.

This dance is performed by the company arranged in parties of three, along the room in the following manner: a lady between two gentlemen, in double rows. All advance and retire--each lady then performs the reel with the gentleman on her right hand, and retires with the opposite gentleman to places--hands three round and back again--all six advance and retire--then lead through to the next trio, and continue the figure to the end of the room. Adopt the Highland step, and music of three-four time.

159. Terms used to Describe the Movements of Dances.

_Balancez_.--Set to partners.

_Chaine Anglaise_.--The top and bottom couples right and left.

_Chaine Anglaise double_.--The right and left double.

_Chaine des Dames_.--The ladies' chain.

_Chaine des Dames double_.--The ladies' chain double, which is performed by all the ladies commencing at the same time.