The term renascent is used for the kind of dancing advocated in this treatise, because it implies the idea of coming again into being. It suggests the revival of a spirit that has animated the practice of dancing during those historic periods when its marvellous potentiality for develop ing strength and beauty has been most fully recognized. It also suggests the rebirth of a style that is healthy and virile, as opposed to certain degenerate movements which obtained too firm a hold on the public fancy in the years immediately preceding the great war, and the formless dances to rhythmless music that followed.