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82 CURIOSITIES OF MUSIC. |
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subject, endeavored to dance an ancient Greek dance to an ancient Greek tune, before the court of Sweden, and Scaliger in the sixteenth century danced the Pyrrhic dance fully armed, before the Emperor Maximilian;* both assumed far too much knowledge in the matter.
There were undoubtedly numerous dancing schools, and possibly also some set figures prescribed in certain dances, but these figures had no names attached to them, and cannot be determined with certainty. The time was marked as in chorus, by a leader, tapping on the floor with heavy iron shoes. There are indications that a dance similiar to the Virginia reel, and other contra dances were known to them; also a dance which resembled the game of "follow-my-leader," where all imitated the postures and gestures of a leader.
Many variations were allowed; Cleisthenes having promised the hand of his daughter to the most successful dancer among her lovers, Hippo-elides, of Athens, tried an innovation on the usual style; having danced the Emmeleia, or tragic dance successfully, he ordered the attendants to bring him a table, upon which he sprang, and standing on his head gesticulated with his legs. Cleisthenes indignant at this new departure, exclaimed " Oh son of Tisander you have undanced your marriage;" Cleisthenes caring more for his skill than for his marriage, replied u that is perfectly immaterial to me." |
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•Cxerwineki, Gesch. d. Tanzk. |
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