The Modern Dances/Chapter 2
General Instructions
These instructions apply to all the dances taught in the following pages. They should be read carefully before going further, for the points brought out here will not only make the dances easier to learn, but will add grace and beauty to the figures as well as a greater degree of satisfaction to those performing them.
Do not hold the partner too close. It does not look well and it interferes with easy and graceful motions. Illustration I shows the correct position. The man's right arm encircles the lady well up under her arm—not around the waist. The lady should be careful not to grip her partner's right arm. Her hand should rest lightly on his arm. The man's left arm and the lady's right should be extended straight out from the shoulder. Do not grip the hands together. The lady's hand should lie in the man's upturned open palm.
Dance in a narrow line. By this I mean that the feet should not be kept wide apart, for that not only looks awkward, but it interferes with the proper performance of the figures. Forward steps, for instance, should be made with the feet almost directly in front of each other.
Do not hold the body or arms tense. All movements should be free, easy and natural.
Do not sway the body or hunch up the shoulders.
Dance with a "soft" knee. By this I do not mean that one should have the appearance of jumping up and down. On the contrary, the shoulders should travel on a line as though there were pieces of glass on them, which must not be allowed to drop off. But do not keep the knees stiff. These dances are done with the limbs, not with the body, the weight being always on the ball of the foot.
In all figures where one foot is raised from the floor be careful to point the toes downward, for the sake of a graceful, easy appearance.
These dances are really very simple and should be learned very readily from the instructions given in the following pages. Regarding these instructions, I advise that they be observed in this manner: First, read all the instructions given for one figure. Second, if there is a diagram, study it carefully in the light of what you have read. Third, after reading the instructions and studying the diagram, practice the figure with the book before you. Fourth, practice with music. Fifth, practice with music and partner.