A Treatise on the Art of DancingGallini, Giovanni-Andrea
History
A Treatise on the Art of Dancing
Gallini, Giovanni-Andrea
Dance -- Early works to 1800; Dance -- History -- Early works to 1800; Theater -- History
In Dancing, the attitudes, gestures, and motions derive also
their principle from nature, whether they caracterise joy, rage,
or affection, in the bodily expression respectively appropriated
to the different affections of the soul. A consideration this,
which clearly proves the mistake of those, who imagine the art
of dancing solely confined to the legs, or even arms; whereas
the expression of it should be pantomimically diffused through
the whole body, the face especially included.
Monsieur Cahusac, in his ingenious treatise on this art, has
very justly observed, that both singing and dancing must have
existed from the primeval times; that is to say, from the first
of the existence of human-kind itself.
"Observe, says he, the tender children, from their entry
into the world, to the moment in which their reason unfolds
itself, and you will see that it is primitive nature
herself, that manifests herself in the sound of their,
voice in the features of their face, in their looks, in
all their motions. Mark their sudden paleness, their quick
contortions, their piercing cries, when their soul is
affected by a sensation of pain. Observe again, their
engaging smile, their sparkling eyes, their rapid motions,
when it is moved by a sentiment of pleasure. You will then
be clearly persuaded of the principles of music and dancing
proceeding from the beginning of the world down to us."
Certain it is, that even in children, the motions and gesture,
strongly paint nature; and their infantine graces are not
unworthy the remarks of an artist, who will be sure to find
excellence in no way more obtainable than by a rational study
of her, where she is the purest.
The cultivation of the natural graces, and a particular care
to shun all affectation, all caricature, unless in comic or
grotesque dances, cannot be too much recommended to those who
wish to make any figure in this art. It is doing a great
injustice to it, to place its excellence in capers, in brilliant
motions of the legs, or in the execution of difficult steps,
without meaning or significance, which require little more than
strength and agility.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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