17. THE SQUARE

  “This exercise teaches us to have the right standard by which to measure everything on earth. During it, the face turns successively to the four directions of the earth – East, West, North and South – connecting with their energy. The East represents Justice; the South – Virtue; the North – Truth, and the West – the earthly existence. The West demonstrates how Truth, Justice, and Virtue benefi t man. When the sun sets, man then appreciates its blessing.”
 “The exercise The Square has a very good effect upon man.” [5, p. 61]
 “And so, whoever wants to perfect himself best fi rst re-establish in his mind the direction of the four right-angles. Only then can he move rightly. The square has two diagonals, four sides and four right angles. The fi rst angle represents the human mind; the second – the human heart; the third – the direction of the spirit; and the fourth – the direction of the soul.”
““Occupy yourselves with the right-angles, and you will see that each force has its own place: the spirit, the soul, the mind and the heart are put in their place. The number one is the place of the spirit; the number two – the place of the soul; three – of the mind; four – of the heart. Therefore, apply the square as an emblem, and with it, solve your problems. Apply the square as a measure within which the external and the internal conditions are balanced. The circle is also an emblem. But within it the internal conditions are better than the external; they are not in balance.”
 Description
 The exercise is composed of two parts. The fi rst sequence is performed in place, and the second – while moving forward. These two sequences are performed in the same manner in 4 different directions. The fi rst direction – facing the center, the 2nd direction – right shoulder towards the center, 3rd direction – back towards the center, and the 4th direction – left shoulder towards the center.Music: Melody 17 (“The Square”) – 64 measures repeated twice, total of 128 measures.
 Starting position
 The dancers still in couples, one partner behind the other, both facing the center.
 The feet are together, arms and elbows are bent and horizontal, hands in front of the chest, palms down, middle fi ngers touching (fi gure 17.1).
 Movement sequence
 Sequence I – in place:
 1st measure: the right foot is extended sideways to the right, toes lightly touching the ground. At the same time the arms extend out horizontally to the sides at shoulder height, palms down (fi gures 17.2 and 17.3)
 2nd measure: the right foot and the hands return to the starting position (figure 17.1)..

Fig 17.1	Fig 17.2

 3rd measure: the left foot is extended to the side, toes lightly touching the ground. At the same time arms extend out horizontally to the sides at shoulder height, palms down.
 4th measure: the left foot and hands return to the starting position.
 On the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th measures, the movements of the fi rst 4 measures repeat.
 Sequence II – in motion:
 9th measure: step with the right foot towards the center. Simultaneously, with palms facing forwards, the hands sweep up vertically in an arc past the front of the face and above the head continuing the arc outwardly and opening until fully extended at shoulder height on both sides, palms still facing forwards (fi gure 17.4)..

Fig 17.3

Fig 17.4	Fig 17.5

 On the 16th measure the left foot is brought back to the right foot, hands return to their starting position in front of the chest.
 Sequence III – in place as in Sequence I
 On 17th to 24th measures: repeat movements of 1st – 8th measures.
 Sequence IV – in motion as in Sequence II
 The 25th – 31st measures: repeat movements of the 9th – 15th measures.
 On the 31st measure one makes a quarter turn to the left. 32nd measure is like 16th measure.

 The partners are again one behind the other with their backs towards the center (figure 17.6).
 Sequence V – in place as in Sequence I
 Measures 33rd – 40th: the same as 1st – 8th measures (fi gure 17.7).
 Sequence VI – in motion as in Sequence II
 Measures 41st to 48th: the same as 9th – 16th measures (fi gure 17.8).
 47th measure: make a quarter turn to the left. The partners are again side by side, left shoulders towards the center.
 Sequence VII – in place as in Sequence I.

Fig 17.6	Fig 17.7

Fig 17.8

Measures 49th – 56th: the same as 1st – 8th measures.

Sequence VIII – in motion as in Sequence II
Measures 57th – 64th: the same as 9th – 16th measures.
On the 63rd measure: make a quarter turn to the left. Partners are again one behind the other, facing the center.
 In doing this exercise, each performer moves around the sides of a square, turning to the left at each corner (fi gure 17.9).
 The whole sequence is repeated again.

Fig 17.9