Three Things: Dance, Dance Edition

Here’s a word for ya: terpsichorean, brought to you today by my dictionary-browsing habit. According to The American Heritage College Dictionary, it means “of or relating to dancing.” In Greek, the word breaks down to terpein, “to delight,” and khoros, “dance.” In Greek mythology, Terpsichore is the Muse of Song and Dance, often illustrated holding a lyre. You may know her as Olivia Newton John in Xanadu. (That last fun fact is not, unfortunately, found in the dictionary.)

This week? Why, three terpsichorean things, of course. Everybody dance. Now.

Archibald Motley, Jr., Blues, 1929. Oil on canvas.

Eadweard Muybridge, Animal Locomotion, Plate 197 (Couple Dancing), 1887. Collotype.

John Singer Sargent, Capri (Rosina Ferrara doing the Tarantella), 1878. Oil on canvas. Private collection.