Curtsy is a gesture commonly used to show respect and gratitude, usually for someone of a higher status or social level. In the Western world, this gesture is like the female version of bowing. Previously, bowing was commonplace in everyday life, but now this gesture is only allowed by members of the European royal family and certain events such as debut parties and ballet recitals. The movements themselves are not complicated, but require practice to maintain balance and posture. If you need to master the moves, this article will show you how!
Step
Part 1 of 3: Doing a Simple Curtsy
Step 1. Lower your head
Bend your head forward slightly, as if giving a respectful nod. Maintain this head position during the curtsy.
Step 2. Hold your skirt
Take the hem of the skirt between the thumb and the first two fingers on each hand, with the little finger spread out. Gently pull your skirt to the side. If the skirt of your dress is too narrow to be pulled to the side, leave your hands at the sides of your body.
Step 3. Place your right foot behind your left foot
Place your right foot a few inches behind your left foot, resting on the ball of your foot. As you do so, transfer most of your body weight to the front leg.
Step 4. Bend your knees
Lower yourself into a curtsy position, bending your knees outward, not forward. Keep your back straight as you do this -- don't lean forward and don't stick to your back.
Step 5. Return to the original position gracefully
Don't come back right away -- return to an upright position slowly and gracefully. Lower your hands back to your sides while raising your head back up.
Part 2 of 3: Training Other Curtsy Types
Step 1. Do a palace curtsy
Court style curtsy is a deep form of curtsy, and is usually used to show respect to members of the royal family, usually from European countries. Court curtsy is similar to a simple salute, except that you have to lower yourself down to show more respect.
- To perform the court salute, place your right foot behind your left foot, resting on the ball of the foot. Make sure your back is straight and your head is lowered, then bend your knees to the sides.
- Continue lowering your body until your right knee almost touches the floor. Stay in that position for a second or two, then slowly come back up to the starting position.
- This type of salute may not sound so difficult, but it actually takes a lot of practice to do it smoothly without jerking.
Step 2. Try curtsy ballet
A ballet curtsy - also known as a révérence - is an elegant curtsy performed at the end of a performance or class to express gratitude to the audience, the pianist, or to the instructor. Perform curtsy ballet with these steps:
- Start in the starting position. Spread your right leg out to the side, with your big toe facing the floor. As you do this, extend your arms out to the second position.
- Transfer your weight to your right leg, extending your left leg a few inches back. Place your left foot on the tip of your big toe.
- Keeping your back straight, bend your knees outward into a curtsy position. As you bend, bring your arms back to the starting position and bend your head slightly.
- Then, while keeping your legs in the same position, extend your legs up, raising your arms to the fourth position. Lift your head and stretch your neck and back as you do this.
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Reverse the motion and repeat with the opposite side to complete the révérence. # Do “Texas dip”. The “Texas dip” is an elaborate curtsy performed by the debutant from the state of Texas during the debut party. This involves lowering yourself into a deep curtsy, then tilting forward until your head almost touches the floor, allowing your dress to balloon around you.
Curtsy Step 8 - To do the "Texas dip," raise your arms in front of you at shoulder height, then spread them out to the sides as you cross your left leg behind your right.
- Keeping your back straight and arms extended out to the sides, bend your knees and lower yourself into a deep curtsy position. When you can't go any deeper into the curtsy, slowly lower yourself down into a sitting position.
- Once seated, lean forward until your forehead almost touches the floor. At this point, some of the debutants will turn their heads to the right to avoid getting their lipstick on the dress!
- Keep your back bent, then lift your head to look at the audience - and don't forget to smile!
- Finally, take your companion's hand and gently lift yourself up into a standing position gracefully.
Part 3 of 3: British Woman Curtsy
Note: British women actually do this when they are with the Queen.
Step 1. Tilt your head downwards, such as nodding or pausing
Step 2. Don't move your arm unless the person you're saluting reaches out for a handshake
Step 3. Place any foot behind the other (British women don't care about which foot goes back)
Step 4. Bend your knees slightly
The British woman lowered herself an inch then came back again. Hold it for three seconds.
Step 5. Return to the starting position quickly
Tips
- It's important to know "when" to curtsy. You'll need to be curtsy when welcoming a member of the royal family, then bow a second time as he or she leaves.
- Another situation that requires women to curtsy is at the end of an award presentation or the end of a musical recital or choir performance. Girls may bow when introduced to guests for the first time, and girls in Catholic schools may bow to nuns in a show of respect.
- Your height doesn't affect your curtsy.
Warning
- Don't lean your ass.
- Don't lose your balance.
