UNIVERSAL ERUDITION, 



centre dances or country dances either French 

 nglifli. In Germany they (till fome times 

 mdcs, fuabeans, palonefe, &c. 



XII- By Choregraphy is meant rjie art of 

 noting on pnper the fteps and figures of a dance, 

 by means of certain characters invented for that 

 purpole, which are peculiar to this art and are 

 adopted by moft nations. Tne imderftanding 

 of theie requires an exprefs ftudy. 1 hey call 

 the defcription of a dance, whole fteps are ex- 

 prefled with the notes of mufic, orchefography. 

 Thoinet Arbeau printed, at Langres in 1588, 

 a curious treatiie on this matter, which he in- 

 titled Orchefography ; and he was the firft who 

 exprefied the fteps of the dances of his time by 

 notes, in the fame manner that fongs and airs 

 are noted. He was followed by the famous 

 Beauchamp. We have feveral books of Englifh 

 country dances where the choregraphy is placed 

 under the airs. Dancing can be learned only 

 by practice , by the aid of a good matter, and 

 by imitating thofe excellent dancers who are to 

 be met with in the great world. They who 

 would excel in dancing fhould take particular 

 care in tlv-ir youth not to contract any bad ha- 

 bits, any fteps or attitudes that are awkward* 

 conftrained or affefted. In the laft place, dan- 

 cing is a matter of agility, an exercife that re- 

 quires natural talents, which are called forth 

 and cultivated by an able mailer , and who, at 

 the fame time that ha teaches his art, enables hk 



pupils 



