Velvet and such fabrics are too heavy, despite their beauty, and, what is more, they have a habit of wrapping themselves about one's feet at the most inconvenient moment, making it almost impossible to move. But all these precautions as to the outward gowning are wasted if you continue to wear the long, stiff corsets decreed by fashion when she dismissed our hips and other curves. No amount of grace, no amount of clever training, and no amount of the knowledge of the most intricate steps will help you to dance charmingly unless your corset has "give" to it and allows you to move with supple ease and comfort.
Personally I use and recommend a special corset made almost entirely of elastic, very flexible and conforming absolutely to the figure, which at the same time it supports. It is known as the Castle Corset, and is designed especially for dancers. Many corsets are now being brought out, however, with elastic in place of whalebone; and the late word from Paris that we may again display a waist-line and hips allows even the fairly stout woman to don shorter and more comfortable "stays."
As for shoes, two things are required of them. They must be comfortable, and they must be fastened on securely. Sometimes I wear dancing-slippers
fastened with ribbons, sometimes I wear
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