What is a curtsey?
Q: What is a curtsey?
A: A curtsey is a traditional gesture of greeting, in which a girl or woman lowers her body by bending her knees. It is the female equivalent of male bowing in European cultures.
Q: Where does the word "curtsy" come from?
A: The word "curtsy" comes from "courtesy", which means politeness.
Q: How did the difference between the female and male gesture develop?
A: According to Desmond Morris, the movements in the curtsey and the bow were similar until the 17th century. Only later did the difference between the female and male gesture develop.
Q: When is a curtsey very formal?
A: When a curtsey is very formal, the girl/woman bends their knees outward (rather than straight ahead), often sweeping one foot behind them. They may also use their hands to hold their skirt out from their body.
Q: Who traditionally performs a curtsey?
A: Traditionally, women and girls perform a curtsey to people who are of higher rank (more important) than they are, just as men and boys bow. Today this practice has become less common. In European cultures it is traditional for women to curtsey in front of members of Royal family; this is sometimes called a “court curtsey” and can be very deep. Some female domestic workers may also perform a courstey for their employers.
Q: Are there any other occasions when someone might perform a courstey?
A: Female dancers often performa courstey at end of performance to show thanks or acknowledge applause from audience; at end of ballet class students will also courstey or bow teacher & pianist; according Victorian dance etiquette woman courstes before beginning dance; female Scottish highland dancers performing national dances & Irish jig will also courstey at beginning & end for national dances & at end for Irish Jig; some female ballroom dancers will courstey partner before beginning Viennese Waltz
