How to walk

 Kellom Tomlinson's dancing manual The Art of Dancing Explained (London, 1735).

Of WALKING.   

WALKING consists of Motion and a Change of Place, by transferring the Weight or Poise of the Body from one Foot to the other, by stepping or advancing the disengaged Foot (whichsoever it be) from the first Position to the fourth advanced, and so alternately, concluding as at first, but always on the contrary Foot In order to walk  gracefully, it is to be observed, that, during the Step or Motion made by the disengaged Foot, as above, the-whole Weight of the Body shall rest on the fame Foot as at commencing it, until the stepping Foot is advanced its due Length of Step; and, on its receiving the Poise or Weight on the Ball or full Part of the Heel, upon fetting it to the Ground or Floor, the now disengaged Foot, which at first fupported the Weight, becoming by this means released, attends the Poise in a gentle and easy Motion, until it arrive in its former Position; but on the contrary Foot for the Step next ensuing, which is made in like Manner, and so on; for if, inftead of the Body's waiting or attending the Motion of the stepping Foot, as above described, it should either go before or along with it, the Grace that ought to accompany our Steps, in walking,  is lost, because the Foot must constantly go before the Body, to receive it, other wise it will always reprefent the Body in a falling Posture.     

And it is farther to be noted, that, in  Walking with a good Grace, Time and Harmony must be observed, as well as in  Dancing.  For Example, the setting down or receiving the Poise, at the End of the Step, is upon  One;  the taking up the disengaged Foot, by a gentle and easy raising the Heel and pointing the Toe, in one intire Motion, which is the Manner of taking up the Foot to step, is upon  Three;  and Two is in the coming up of the disengaged Foot after the Step has been made, which may be continued faster or slower, but must always be in one certain Time, counting  One, Two,  and  Three,  as in Music. And, by this Method, the Body with a good Grace resting or landing, 'till two Thirds of the Three we count, must necessarily add great Beauty to our to our walking, which is the Case under Consideration; for the Step is made upon  One, the Preparation or Taking up the Foot, to make the Step,  Three,  and Two is in the coming up of the released Foot, to continue our walking.        

And, as to the Motion of the Arms in  Walking,  they will naturally have their due Course or Swing, in a continual Contrast or Opposition to the Feet; for, when the right Foot steps forward wards, the left Arm advances, in Contradi&ion, as the right Ann does, when the left Foot ileps forwards (g), and fo alter* nately; and the like in  Walking backwards, in Relation to the Contrail, but not with Refpe& to the Arms, beeaufe, in  Waiting backwards, the Contradi&on is between the fame Arm and Foot; for, when the right Foot ileps back (h), the right Arm advances in Oppofitioh, as, when the left Foot ileps backwards (i), the left Arm advances, as aforefaid, and fo on, if continued. Having, I hope, offered what will prove satisfactory