I am going to revive the curtsey, do you want to help me?

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Because I think it's funny and sweet and also, just think of all the time we will save if we curtsey while we are thinking of what to say!

― rainy, Tuesday, 13 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

only if men revive the art of bowing! curtseying is quaint and all that but (for me at least) has implications of sevility and CLASS AND GENDER REPRESSION that, er, i'm not comfortable with. and now i think i've given a waaaaaay too serious answer to this question :)

― katie, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

half curtsey for everyday use, full curtsey for meeting Royalty or best friends. Secret curtsey techniques for clubs and societies. Rockist curtsies for Rockists. Old school, new school, it's a whole new world of politeness.

― rainy, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

no the men must curtsey also!!!

― rainy, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

skirts are important for curtseying. if we all must curtsey, we all must wear skirts. men included.

― di, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I've only been curtseyed to once, at the El Morcambo Club in Toronto. At the time I saw it as part of the celebration of Britishness that was going on there...there were lots of people dressed up as British pop stars too. I found it quite sweet....I wasn't quick-witted enough to think to do so at the time, but I suppose I really should have bowed in return.

― MarkH, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

OK di, you convinced me. skirts and curtseys for all!

― katie, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

We used to do ginormous curtseys at the end of ballet classes as if to thank the orchestra & conductor (or the tape machine). Proper ones, not just little bobs like some maid in Upstairs Downstairs. I will show you if you like.

― Emma, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I did ballet too and I clean forgot about the ballet curtsey! I liked modern dance better, but we didn't curtsey for that. Emma, please will you be the official Curtsey Coach?

― rainy, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I love that thing of a band doing a little bow at the end of a set, like the Beatles at Variety Performances, it would be great to end a set and do a bow before walking off.

― chris, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Yes, fair maid! What a sweet idea!

― Will, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Right, How To Curtsey (Cecchetti method, I think).

Start in 1st position. Take a big but graceful step to the left, sweeping your left arm out. Then step your right foor behind your left about a foot and as you do this sweep out your right arm (arms now in 2nd position). Plie and shift weight to back (right) foot. Look pleased with yourself. Repeat to the other side.

All to be done with great poise, tummies IN, shoulders BACK and DOWN, head up, neck long etc. etc. I accept no responsibility for any injuries sustained following these instructions.

― Emma, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i haf sustained no injuries so far looking pleased with myself; the other bitz can fuck off

― mark s, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh crumbs, Emma, until just now I'd totally forgotten how we were doing ballet in the KoC at closing time. The shame...

― Madchen, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

getting down on one's knees and applying mouth to royalty's genitals = far more fun.

― Geoff, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Emma, did you have to say thank you as well as curtsey? We had "Thank you Mrs Johnston" and "Thank you Mrs White" or "Thank you tape recorder" when she was off sick (this is not a joke).

― Madchen, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

In fact we had to say 'Merci beaucoup Madame'. Not really, just in my 'Ballet Shoes' fantasy life......

My gym is going to start doing the oddly named New York Ballet Classes like what all the film & telly stars do to stay in shape. Dare I? I still have my pointe shoes under my bed somewhere. Maybe doing proper ballet would stop me feeling the urge to demonstrate in front of the drunken punters in the KoC.

― Emma, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I had a dream job through my teens: playing piano for you ballet girlies: improvising waltzes, trying not to leer at the older ones and occasionally (get this) taking class at about £6/hr (in 1988! while my friends did paper rounds). Didn't even learn the set music except occasionally. Oh happy days.

― chris, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

MEN BOW.

Women should go back to entertaining suitors in the foyer and giving potential husbands a card upon ending the evening. These gentlemen should then retire to the billiards room with a snifter of cognag and a cigar, idly examining the day's ticker tape whilst ruminating on the failings of the fairer sex. Oh, those silly women. Chortle chortle.

― David Raposa, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Whaddya mean 'go back to'? This is what happens all the time in my social circle.

― Emma, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that guys really haven't changed much since then, except for possibly gaining a smidge of weight. Thanks to Emma.

― David Raposa, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Huh? Are you saying I make men gain weight? How do I do that? I am not one for feeding my men up, I find it makes them slothful and diminishes their libido.

― Emma, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

MEN BOW

I read this as a noun, eg, you take a man, wrap him around a package and tie him up tight.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I curtsey all the time. It is true.

Never carry an ivory tipped cane, yuo do not deserve such opulence.

― 1 1 2 3 5, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i was so surprised to see this thread was started by rainy. no really.

― ethan, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

so what.

― rainy, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Rainy strikes me as a zany curtsey kind of girl.

― Samantha, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Why was it startling? I for one am all for it.

― Maria, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i was being sarcastic. i love rainy really but she's not exactly a fountain of unpredictability.

― ethan, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

You don't love me and you are not so unpredictable yourself. I know I can always rely on you to be sarcastic in response to anything I say.

― rainy, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

curtseying is not a habit I will endorse. the skirts would get to me. I think a new salute should be invented, like the secret mens group signal from twin peaks

― Menelaus Darcy, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

curtseying while wearing jeans = classic!

― rainy, Wednesday, 14 November 2001 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two months pass...

To view as perfect a curtsey as you can find go to:

http://www.nando.net/nt/images/diana/pic20.html

There you'll see the late Diana, Princess of Wales bending the knee to the Empress of Japan.

Rob

― Rob Jones, Tuesday, 5 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I have to do Scottish dance curtsies all the time, they're much less of a deal than the ballet kind. I think the err objectionable overtones are reduced by fact that you don't bow your head at all, and maintain eye contact all through the curtsey. It's much more flirtatious than submissive. In buxom corseted days it was probably just an excuse to let your dance partner see down your peasant blouse. SCANDAL!

― Pyth, Wednesday, 6 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I would like to curtsey in a kimono one day.

― Honda, Wednesday, 6 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i am going to curtsey in hotpants one day.

― di, Wednesday, 6 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

A young English schoolgirl curtseyed to me when I visited my son in Brighton in 1986, the year after I retired from the army. I was surprised that as late as that, well into the decline of all traditional standards of behaviour in this country, I was still received with such a courtesy, but she explained to me that curtseying was still encouraged at Roedean, where she was studying at the time. How charming, I thought.

However, later the same day I was investigated by the police for "loitering" outside that school. Thankfully, I am pleased to say, no charges were pressed after I mentioned my 34 years' service to the British Army and the high standing I had achieved therein. How wonderfully free from excessive reverence and bowing down towards acquired social status our wonderful British police are!

― Anthony Sanderson, Thursday, 7 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

i despise curtseying. it reminds me of forced childhood ballet lessons.

― ben dover, Sunday, 10 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Of course it is important that a a skirt or a dress should be worn when curtsying. For a girl, holding out both sides of the skirt a little way with the thumb, index and middle finger of each hand is an essential part of her curtsy. For a woman, holding out the skirt while curtsying may be optional, but always looks sensational when done!

Geoff

― Geoff Potter, Friday, 15 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

This is SO not true! What about ballerinas wearing tutus, they don't hold their dresses! Since I have resumed ballet classes to the undying amusement of my mates I have relearned how to do an exquisite curtsey and all I need now is the right occasion to use it.

― Emma, Friday, 15 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Emma if I ever get over there again we'll have a curtsey-fest. Will you share your ballet skeelz wif me? I'll teach you a lovely slip-jig and the highland fling.

― Pyth, Friday, 15 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Sounds great! I think I will greet my chums in the pub tonight with a curtsey.

― Emma, Friday, 15 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two weeks pass...

I agree with the general consensus that a skirt is essential when curtsying. As for holding it out, I think that's something best left to little girls of twelve and under presenting flowers to the Queen Mother or playing Alice in Wonderland.

Talking of Alice in Wonderland, what about curtsying in an apron? Any thoughts?

― Steve, Tuesday, 5 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

that is a pinafore bitch

― anthony, Tuesday, 5 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

From the perspective of this male, a perfectly executed deep curtsey is a thing of great beauty and very feminine. I love to see a woman or girl curtsey to the floor. However, I'd never been very keen on the idea of being curtseyed TO. After all, curtseying to a man is a submissive and subservient act, isn't it? Nor had I ever thought of the curtsey as inviting lust.

Then I read Pyth's contribution! Wearing a dress with a tight, low- cut bodice, maintaining eye contact all the while, and using the deep curtsey to flirt with and seduce a man - deep joy! It would work on me, that's for sure! Nor is there anything submissive or subservient about it. Quite the reverse. She who curtseys to me like that will be honoured in return with a deep bow and a kiss on the hand. Come to think of it, I'll even eat out of her hand if she so desires!

― Duncan, Wednesday, 13 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

chivalry is not dead!

― electric sound of jim, Wednesday, 13 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Curtsies would go nicely with the victoriana look of long skirts and stripey blouses and lacey stockings and fitted jacket etc that we're all going to be wearing this winter.

― isadora, Wednesday, 13 March 2002 01:00 (twenty-four years ago)

five months pass...

Found another lovely Royal-to-Royal curtsey the other day. Just go to...

http://www.iranian.com/CyrusKadivar/2002/January/2500/8.html

...to see Princess Grace curtseying to the Shah of Iran.

Enjoy!

Duncan

― , Tuesday, 20 August 2002 13:15 (twenty-three years ago)

three months pass...

Here's another one:
http://www.instyle.com/instyle/read/ci/partyhopper/0,7588,391977_3,00.html
This time it's Madonna curtseying to Queen Elizabeth.
Pete

― , Monday, 2 December 2002 13:50 (twenty-three years ago)

http://www.dharma-rain.org/StillPoint/archives/graphics3_4_99/bowing.gif

― dakatin, Monday, 2 December 2002 16:09 (twenty-three years ago)

I was taught to curtsey for my kindergarten graduation ceremony back in the early Seventies. I was going to curtsey when I got my high school diploma--just as a private joke--but I chickened out. Damn.

― Christine "Green Leafy Dragon" Indigo (cindigo), Monday, 2 December 2002 21:40 (twenty-three years ago)

I am all for reviving curtseys, but only if someone will teach me how to do it properly! Also I think that intermissions in movies should be revived, because I went to Harry Potter today and I would have liked a break in the middle to go to the toilet and buy jaffas.

― Livvie, Tuesday, 3 December 2002 09:54 (twenty-three years ago)

What do you mean by 'jaffas'? Jaffa cakes? Do they have Jaffa Cakes vending machines in cinema toilets now? Tell me what you mean by 'jaffas'.

― N. (nickdastoor), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 11:44 (twenty-three years ago)

orange flavoured chocolate in red candy coating

― rainy (rainy), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 23:17 (twenty-three years ago)

You buy those in the toilet?

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 23:23 (twenty-three years ago)

if we're lucky

― rainy (rainy), Tuesday, 3 December 2002 23:27 (twenty-three years ago)

five years pass...

Revive

― Dom Passantino, Friday, 14 December 2007 10:52 (eighteen years ago)

Any particular reason?

― Pashmina, Friday, 14 December 2007 11:08 (eighteen years ago)

Anything to say about the subject or content of the thread, other than "revive"?

― Pashmina, Friday, 14 December 2007 11:09 (eighteen years ago)

"revive", "revive the curtsey", puns, greatest tradition of English humour there is... do keep up.

― Dom Passantino, Friday, 14 December 2007 11:12 (eighteen years ago)

"greatest" tradition of english "humour".

― Pashmina, Friday, 14 December 2007 11:23 (eighteen years ago)

English humours are oft treatable with leeches.

― libcrypt, Friday, 14 December 2007 13:23 (eighteen years ago)

You need to be wearing a fairly big skirt to make curtseying worth it, I think.

― Laurel, Friday, 14 December 2007 15:08 (eighteen years ago)

use your imagination

― n/a, Friday, 14 December 2007 15:09 (eighteen years ago)

a miniskirt curtsey would be a thing to see

― n/a, Friday, 14 December 2007 15:09 (eighteen years ago)

but i guess the invisible skirt curtsey comes off a little sarcastic

― n/a, Friday, 14 December 2007 15:10 (eighteen years ago)

The thing is that a great curtsey looks like a levitation trick, I think. When you can see the feet and legs all tangled up and straining to basically CROUCH in court shoes, I suspect it loses a little something.

― Laurel, Friday, 14 December 2007 15:15 (eighteen years ago)

Altho maybe that's the test of a great cutsey.

― Laurel, Friday, 14 December 2007 15:15 (eighteen years ago)

Altho maybe that's the test of a great cutsey.

Revive cutesy > revive curtsey, definitely.

― libcrypt, Friday, 14 December 2007 17:54 (eighteen years ago)

the curtsey was an anti-cleavage-seeing innovation t/f

― gff, Friday, 14 December 2007 18:00 (eighteen years ago)

I like the early attempt at zing culture between Ethan and Rainy on this thread.

― jaymc, Friday, 14 December 2007 18:03 (eighteen years ago)

XPOST !!!! Hahahaha:

You don't love me and you are not so unpredictable yourself.

― nabisco, Friday, 14 December 2007 18:05 (eighteen years ago)

Uh false? The curtsey provides an even more extreme cleavage view, if anything?

― Laurel, Friday, 14 December 2007 18:05 (eighteen years ago)

Channeling Leslie Gore there

― nabisco, Friday, 14 December 2007 18:05 (eighteen years ago)

otm, everybody

― El Tomboto, Friday, 14 December 2007 18:17 (eighteen years ago)

i mean as an alternative to bowing, but i guess proper ladies never bowed anyway huh

― gff, Friday, 14 December 2007 18:20 (eighteen years ago)

It is believed the curtsey originated in certain parts of the further East and that the rationale behind it was as follows:
Human beings are the only creatures with an upright posture, and this is because they are the Axial being. When we bow we defer our axiality bringing the upper body nearer to the horizontal in homage to the verticality of another.
It is said that certain ancient Estrenne cultures held that blondes - being sacred - could never lose their axiality even relatively, thus they made reverence without inclining themselves toward the horizontal. In later times, of course, most curtseys came to incorporate some degree of inclination, but this is held - by some at least - to be their origin.
Incidentally, it is also said that the quasi-upright posture of birds when not in flight betokens their position as winged symbols of angelic powers.

This person is mad like a mercury-poisoned hater, t/f?

― Laurel, Friday, 14 December 2007 18:22 (eighteen years ago)

oh wow, a whole other internet subculture i'd never heard of!

― gff, Friday, 14 December 2007 18:31 (eighteen years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.