Page:Modern Dancing (1914) Castle.djvu/80

Rh do the ordinary Waltz movement or steps to that tempo. Avoid always the terrible schedule which obliges you to waltz, hesitate, waltz, hesitate, etc., no matter what tune is being played or who is in your way. That kind of dancing belongs to the people who count to themselves, looking up at the ceiling, 1, 2, 3—1, 2, 3—1, 2, 3.

There is very little to explain in this; in fact, the title itself is the explanation, but don't pass it by as being too easy to receive any consideration. True, it is simply walking to Waltz time; but it is very difficult to do this and have it look like anything. It is something like standing still on the stage; that takes a good actor, and walking to Waltz time takes a good dancer. In these modern dances the plain walk is the best step to begin with, and it is always very useful while you are "thinking of a good one." In dancing the lady may go a few steps back while the gentleman takes the corresponding number of steps forward, or the gentleman may turn and walk in the same direction as the lady. This walking was done years ago in the comic opera "The Merry Widow," and was considered very pretty. Then, I think, the gentlemen walked, not opposite, but