Drawing Room Dances by
Henri Cellarius Chapter 11
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XI.
THE WALTZE À CINQUE TEMPS.
I will finish what I have to say upon the different kinds of waltze,
by giving some account of a new waltze composed, during my residence
in London, by my friend, Perrot, and which he has had the kindness to
dedicate to me, I may therefore say I have been at the fountain-head
to acquire its execution and principles.
This, which is called the waltze
à cinque temps, is as yet known in Paris only by hearsay.
I must therefore confine myself to a mere technical notice, and wait
till it has received the approbation of the French public before
making any peculiar observations.
The step of this waltze in itself has nothing very complicated;
the principal difficulty consists in the time, which is little used,
but of which nevertheless we find an example in Boieldien's celebrated air,
"Viens, gentille dame." The pupil should in the first place familiarize his
air with this time, and after attending to it for a little while he will
be able to keep it as easily as that of the other waltzes.
The waltze
à cinque temps, destined originally for the theatre, was
executed by springs, and was composed of many figures and running steps,
which have been suppressed to make it suited to the public.
The position is the same as for the waltze
à deux temps;
the gentleman begins with the left foot and the lady with the right.
This is the detail of the five beats, of which the entire waltze is composed;
First beat: the waltzer should have his right foot in advance, make a jetè
with the left, passing before the lady as in the waltze à trois temps.
Second beat: place the right foot in the third position behind.
Third beat: join the left foot behind the right.
Fourth beat: place the right foot in the fourth position in front.
Fifth beat: A little glissade behind and on the side.
It is necessary always to recommence with the left foot.
A demi-round must be made to the three first beats as in the waltze
à trois temps;
you then make a slight turn to the fourth, and make the second demi-round upon
the little glissade.
I shall now point out the lady's step, decomposing the five times as for the gentleman.
First step: The lady should have the left foot in advance, and make a jetè
upon the right foot, raising the left foot behind.
Second step: Coupé upon the left foot, raising the right foot
before to the fourth position.
Third step: Jetè upon the right foot, raising the left behind.
Fourth step: Jetè of the left foot, raising the right behind.
Fifth step: Little glissade behind the right foot. But See Note Below
The lady should not forget that she must always commence with the right foot.
This waltze is capable of as many variations as the others, and admits
equally of l'envers and l'endroit.
To accustom the pupil's ear to this time, the composer has suggested a
bell to be struck with a little hammer at the fifth beat. For the greater
facility this measure may be divided into two—a measure of three beats, and a measure of two.
After this simple detail, made rather by way of precept than for the world,
I do not pretend to give any farther idea of the waltze
à cinque temps, nor to presage the less or greater success, that it is
destined to meet with. If, however, I may be allowed to speak of my personal impressions,
independent of the fascination it derived from the wonderful execution of its
inventor—it seems to me to combine all the conditions of allurement and grace,
which are needful to put it on a par with other dances and new waltzes.
I think too that there will be found in its execution a peculiar originality,
which it owes to the piquant clashing character of the rhythm, which may perhaps
above all contribute to its becoming fashionable.
But I must not forget that I am talking of a waltze which so to speak,
is unpublished, and which, at the
moment of my writing, has not yet appeared in any French ball-room.
I have always held the maxim that a professor of dancing should never
take the initiative in the matter of a new dance or waltze; he ought to wait
for the public impulse without ever attempting to give it himself. A master's
pretending to impose a novelty on the ball-room might perhaps be enough to
drive it from them for ever, whatever else might be its merit and attractions.
It is, therefore, under the form of a mere suggestion that I have ventured to speak
of the waltze à cinque temps, I have therefore endeavoured to describe its
fundamentals, and to explain the step for those who may wish to try it.
My duty now is to watch for the first indications, and to see what may be its
fate in the balls of the ensuing winter.
NOTE :
This is
avjewe speaking now.
I disagree with the translation of
La danse des salons in this case. The
original French was
glissade
derrière du
pied droit.
which was translated as
glissade behind the right foot.
Noe "derrière du pied droit" is
short for "derrière de la pied droit" and was
translated as
"(derrière de) (la pied droit)" or "behind the right foot". I would
assert that, instead,
Cellarius intended "(derrière) (de la pied droit)" or "behind with the right foot",
which leaves you on the correct foot, among other things.
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Drawing Room Dances by
Henri Cellarius Chapter 11
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