Page:The Modern Dances (1914) Walker.djvu/40

 36 body successively onto one foot and then on the other. This is done with one foot well in advance of the other. Get plenty of swing into your action. Swing forward. Swing backward. And right here take warning! In balancing onto the forward foot, the backward foot should barely leave the floor, and in no event should it be brought forward. And in balancing onto the backward foot the forward foot should not be brought backward.

The above are the fundamental figures of the Walking Boston. There is no rule governing the number of steps to be taken forward or back, the number of times to balance, or the number of turns to be made. This is left entirely to the pleasure of the dancers. I have mentioned four in the preceding instructions merely to get you started.

The fundamental figures may be varied by skipping, the man on his left foot, the lady on her right. This skipping step is made by the man on his left foot only, and by the lady on her right only, thus making every other step a skipping step. Do not attempt to skip in balancing or turning.