Читать книгу Dancing Without an Instructor - Professor Wilkinson - Страница 5

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It is a mistake to suppose that the beginner, by learning the two or three steps necessary for the waltz or two-step, can dance correctly. There is a beginning in dancing, as in everything else, and the first thing to learn is how to stand properly.

This seems absurdly simple at first thought, but, as a matter of fact, comparatively few persons possess the secret. Either the arms get in the way, or the legs are awkwardly bent, or the body is too rigid.

The correct standing position is as follows:

Stand with the heels close together, toes pointing outward. Now sway the entire body forward a little, so as to bring the weight on the balls of the feet. The heels should just touch the floor, but the weight should all be forward. Allow the arms to swing freely from the shoulder; in fact, forget that you have arms for the time being. This position is the key to the various steps that are to follow.

Having learned how to stand correctly, we are now ready to study what are known as “the five positions.” These positions embrace the various steps used in all dances, and must be mastered.