Terpsichore. In Greek mythology, Terpsichore is one of the nine Muses and goddess of dance and chorus. She lends her name to the word terpsichorean which means of or relating to dance. She is usually depicted sitting down, holding a lyre, accompanying the dancers' choirs with her music. Her name comes from the Greek words and o. She was also said to be the mother of the Sirens and Parthenope by Achelous. In some accounts, she bore the Thracian king Biston by Ares. The British 32-gun frigate HMS Terpsichore commanded by Captain Bowen participated in the Battle of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Terpsichore is the name of a street in New Orleans' historic neighborhoods of Faubourg Lafayette and the Lower Garden District. It runs alongside Euterpe and Melpomene streets, also named for Greek muses. Terpsichorean is the name of the Choreography Society of Hans Raj College, University of Delhi. Terpsichore figures among her sisters in Hesiod's Theogony. When The Histories of Herodotus were divided by later editors into nine books, each book was named after a Muse. Terpsichore was the name of the fifth book. The character of Wilkins Micawber, Esq, Jr. is described as a votary of Terpsichore, in an Australian newspaper brought to London by Dan Peggotty in 1850 novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. T.S. Eliot in the poem Jellicle Cats from Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, refers to the terpsichorean powers' Jellicle Cats as they dance by the light of the Jellicle Moon. Terpischore Choral Dance is the name of a chapter in Theresa Cha's Dictee. Some Terpsichore is the title of a short story in a 2014 book, Thunderstruck and Other Stories, by Elizabeth McCracken. The Chaos is a poem where Terpsichore is mentioned in a line. Terpsichore is referenced in George Orwell's first novel Burmese Days in a dialogue by one of the minor characters, Mr Macgegror. Terpsichore is the title of a large collection of dance tunes collected by Michael Praetorius, some originating with Pierre-Francisque Caroubel and some later adapted for wind ensemble by Bob Margolis. Terpsichore is also found in Francois Couperin's Second Ordre from the Pieces de clavecin, and in the third version of Handel's opera Il pastor fido. This opera is sometimes referred to as Terpsicore and Il pastor fido. The Jimmy Van Heusen/Sammy Cahn song Come Dance with Me includes the lyric what an evening for some Terpsichore. However it is sung as a three-syllable word with the chore component pronounced like core rather than curry. The Russian singer Origa sings a song, Tersicore. Canadian punk band Gob has a song called Terpsichore on their album Apt. 13. The eighteenth century French dancer and courtesan Marie-Madeleine Guimard named the private theater in her private palace the Temple of Terpsichore. Terpsichore in Sneakers is the title of a 1980 study of postmodern dance by dance historian and critic Sally Banes. The song Terpsichora is included on J-Pop singer Akiko Shikata's 2007 album Istoria: Musa. The album Cool by Bob James and Earl Klugh features a track called Terpsichore. In the art of the Russian rockband Splean is the eponymous song. Herbie Nichols composed a song called Terpsichore on his Blue Note recordings. In the 1936 feature film Swing Time starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, Lucky, when asked by Mr. Gordon, why he wishes to learn to dance, answers: To flirt with terpsichore. He then proceeds to take a dance lesson with Penny, culminating in a paired tap routine. In the 1947 film Down To Earth, Rita Hayworth plays Terpsichore, who is annoyed and visits Earth to change a musical that depicts her in a bad light. In the 1948 Musical Comedy film April Showers, starring Jack Carson and Ann Sothern, Carson plays a Victorian Era vaudevillian. While performing an act with his son, Buster, Buster asks Shall we dance Mr. Lovejoy?, Carson replies by saying Terpsichore Mr. Gay!. In the 1969 Western film McLintock!, Drago introduces an exhibition of new dance steps as Terpsichorean. Olivia Newton-John plays the muse Terpsichore as Kira in the 1980 film Xanadu, a remake of Down To Earth. Terpsichore is featured as a character in the 1997 Disney animated film Hercules. In the 1961 Gunsmoke episode Old Yellow Boots, Doc boasts to Chester that in his younger days he was known as the terror of Terpsichore. In an episode called Quick-Quick Slow Death of the UK crime agent series The Avengers, a dance institute is called Terpsichorean Training Techniques Inc.
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