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Here, Fred and Ginger are dancing Let's Call the
Whole Thing Off; yes, on roller skates.
There
is an interesting lesson in body lines in this photo—that the shape of
the body can be pleasing and add to the beauty of the dance, and that
matching or complementary lines between partners can multiply that
beauty more than two-fold. Notice how Fred and Ginger's leading shape,
their right legs, torsos, and arms match almost exactly. Their head
positions, gaze, and even their "artful" right hand shapes match. We
can't see Ginger's left leg, but we can certainly imagine that their
thighs, the angle of their bent knees, and the amount of rotation and
consequent relationship of their legs to the floor are all exactly the
same.
Why is this important? Balance and symmetry are
pleasing. The shape of one dancer reinforces the other and pushes the
effect of the whole to a higher level. Matching shapes not only look
good; they feel good. By matching your partner's line, you are dancing with
him or her, rather than doing your own thing in her proximity. It is a
form of visual communication: "I see what you are doing, like it, and
am with you." "We are one."
Given all this, it is interesting to see what they are
doing with their left arms (or what they are not
doing). It pains me to suggest that Fred could ever make a mistake, but
they are not together back there, and he looks a little tired in his
droopiness.
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(click on any thumbnail for a larger view)
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