Do Lemmings Scurry, or only Mice ?

[Katharine Kanter]

Do Lemmings Scurry, or only Mice ?


It would seem that new "style guidelines" of the American press require that ALL TECHNICAL TERMS BE ELIMINATED.

Thus, tour en l'air becomes

GET THIS (!) "air turn"

and now read this:

"The contrasting classical style of Don Quixote's dream scene requires other qualities. Veronika Part graced the choreography with her Kirov form, strongly rising up on toe in her solo. Anne Milewski gave the cupid figure a delightful scurry on toe."

New York Times, June 10th 2004

A "scurry" is a bourrée, I s'pose .....

Now if someone could explain to us what "strongly rising up on toe" might mean, that would be swell.

What about “weakly rising” ? A baby elephant struggling to its feet ? A relevé ?

And when will “toe” be taxed as a technical-anatomical term ?
Henceforth, shall we perhaps say “far-end of the foot” ?

And Hark ! is that the faint roar of lemmings, scurrying to the sea ?