Pygmalion maintains his position without moving while Galatea awakens.
Standing, as in “first position,” with bent head, closed eyes and clasped hands, the right foot a little in advance of the other, the weight of the body resting principally upon the left, Galatea slowly, very slowly, unclasps her hands and gradually separates them. The left hand moves out from her side while the right hand, at the same time, is lifted outward and upward to her throat, “second position.” Keeping the left arm extended a little from her side, the hand slightly raised and fingers bent, she continues to raise her right hand until it covers her eyes, at the same time swinging her body around, bearing the weight heavily on the left foot, until the “third position” is assumed. Holding
Third Position.
Fourth Position. this pose for an instant, she turns slowly back again, lifting her hand until it shades her eyes; she then raises her chin and bends slightly forward as she opens her eyes and beholds Pygmalion. This is the “fourth position.”
Again she pauses for an instant, then by slow degrees the left arm is raised while the right one is lowered and the hands are held out in welcome, as in the “fifth and last position.”
At no time must the arms form parallel lines; even at the last the extended arms should be bent very slightly outward at the elbows. The two sharp angles, formed by bending the elbows in the same direction at the same moment, should be especially avoided. At all times during the awakening Galatea must be so posed that her movements might, at any moment, be stopped and she would
Fifth Position. be found standing in a graceful and charming position. Success in this can only be obtained, and little awkwardnesses avoided, by practice before a large mirror, where every movement and every curve of the body may be seen.