VII.

KNEE EXERCISE.

FIRST SERIES.

First Position.

No. 153. The instructor will command: 1. Knee Exercise; 2. First Series; 3. First-POSITION.

No. 154. At the third command,

the student will take the position by grasping the hips with the hands, turning the left foot so that it points directly front, and placing the right heel behind the left in such a manner that the feet form a right angle in front, as represented in Fig. 75. There are nine positions of the feet for the three classes of movements of the First Position. In the first, Fig. 76, the right heel is placed behind the left, forming a right angle in front; in the second, the right heel is placed against the middle of the left foot, forming a right angle both in front and in the rear; in the third, the right heel is placed in front of the toes of the left foot in such a manner that the right foot points to the right; in the fourth, the points of the feet are

FIG. 75.

turned toward each other, and the heels are turned out as far as

1 First Series.-The movements of this Series are calculated to give strength and elasticity to the feet and legs, and, indirectly, ease, grace, and

elegance to the whole carriage. They are also valuable preparatory exercises for walking, leaping, running, or dancing.

possible, so as to form nearly a straight line, as in Fig. 76. The fifth, sixth, and seventh positions correspond respectively to the first, second, and third, the heel of the left foot being behind that of the right in the fifth position, against the middle of the right foot in the sixth, and in front of the toes of the right foot in the seventh. In the eighth position' of Fig. 76, the heels are placed together, and the toes turned out, so as to form a straight line. In the ninth, the feet are placed about two inches apart, parallel, and pointed directly front, and the weight of the body is thrown upon the toes.

No. 155.- First Movements— SINK. At this command, the students sink as low as possible without throwing the feet out of position, as represented by the dotted part of Fig. 75, the trunk remaining upright, and then rise to their full height, four times, with the feet in each of the first four positions of Fig. 76. On each fourth upward motion, the next position of the feet. is immediately taken with a stamp, without words of command.

FIG. 76.

No. 156.-Second Movements-SINK. These movements only differ from those of No. 155 in being executed in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth positions of Fig. 76.

1

No. 157.-Third Movements?— SINK.

Eighth Position.-On first attempting to take this position, the student may not be able to throw the toes quite out to a straight line; and in this case they should be turned only as far as possible without render

These movements are

ing the body unsteady. A little practice, however, will enable almost any one to assume the position with ease and comfort.

2 Third Movements.-This class of movements is effective for render

executed from the position of Fig. 77, in which the feet are in the ninth position of Fig. 76, by first letting down the body as low as possible, as in the dotted part of Fig. 77, and then raising it on the toes to its full height sixteen times. The trunk of the dotted part of the Fig., however, inclines too much forward, as it should retain its upright position during the entire exercise. At first, the maintenance of a vertical position of the trunk is attended with some difficulty, as there is involuntarily a greater or less disposition to bending forward, caused by the changing of the center of gravity; but this is soon over

come,

Second Position.

No. 158.-At the command, SecondPOSITION, the student will take the position of Fig. 59, which is the commencing position for the two classes of movements immediately following.

FIG. 77.

No. 159.-First Movements-RIGHT. At this command, the student will first stamp with the left foot, turning out its point as the commencing position is regained, and then immediately step to the right, with a stamp of the right foot, leaving about three times the length of the foot between the heels, thus taking the position of Fig. 78. In this position the toes are turned out so that the feet form nearly a straight line to the sides, and the body rests equally on both feet. As soon as this position is gained, the movements are continued by making the motion of the dotted part of Fig. 78, and regaining the position seven times. In making this motion to the right, the full weight of the body is thrown upon the right knee, the left leg being kept rigid and straight. As soon as the seventh change to the

ing freer all the joints of the leg and foot, though it chiefly employs the extensor muscles of the calves and toes. Owing to the exertion required

to maintain the trunk in an upright position, it also acts in a not unimportant manner upon the lower muscles of the back.

right is made, the student instantly recovers the position of No. 158, by placing the right foot beside the left in the military position ; then, at the command, LEFT,

the student first stamps with the right foot and then steps to the left, with a stamp of the left foot, and makes seven motions to the left corresponding to the dotted part of Fig. 78, after which the original position is immediately regained.

No.160.-Second Movements-ALTERNATE. At this command, the student, first stepping to the right with a stamp of the right foot, and then to the left with a stamp of the left foot, thus placing the heels about three times the length of the foot apart, makes seven of the motions of Fig. 78 by alternation, first to the right from this position and then to the left, when, at the command, BOTH, sixteen of these motions are described completely over from side to side, the body pausing in a vertical position only after the sixteenth outward motion has been made, when the position of No. 158 is instantly resumed.

No. 161.-Third Movements-RIGHT. This class of movements only differs from No. 159 in being exe

FIG. 78.

FIG. 79.

cuted directly front, as represented in Fig. 79. The foot in the rear, however, should be turned sidewise instead of front. In making the advanced movements of Fig. 79, the weight of the body is thrown wholly upon the forward foot, over which the knee is extended as far as possible, the trunk and the leg in the rear forming a straight line which inclines toward the horizontal floor.

SECOND SERIES.

First Position.

No. 162.—The instructor will command: 1. Knee Exercise; 2. Second Series; 3. First--POSITION.

No. 163. At the last command,

the student will take the position of Fig. 80, in which the knee is bent as much as possible, and pointed directly down, the calf of the leg and the heel being pressed firmly against the thigh.

No. 164.- First MovementsRIGHT. At this command, the right leg will first be straightened, and the right foot carried directly down and placed beside the left in the military position, p. 120, when the commencing position will immediately be regained. On the fourth motion from the commencing position, at the command, LEFT, the right foot will remain down, and the left leg will take a position corresponding to that of Fig. 80, when four downward motions will be made

FIG. 80.

with the left leg and foot, on the last of which the right leg regains the position of Fig. 80; then, at the command, ALTERNATE, four downward motions will be made by alternation, the foot that sustains the body remaining in position until the descending one is placed by its side; and finally, at the command, RECIPROCATE, eight downward reciprocating motions will be made by springing from the floor, one foot taking the position at the same time the other one descends.