Social Etiquette : How to Curtsy 

This was the most tragic example of a curtsy I have ever witnessed.

Step 1 Right ankle crossed over the left foot from the back . Step 2 Slowly descend. While at the same time , either closing your eyes briefly , or making a gentle closed mouth smile More formal -- such as Royalty, Heads of state, other dignitaries Slowly and gracefully bow your head .while on the descend of the curtsy . Such simple beautiful customs of civility , just lovely

eHow usually give good advice. but this is an appalling video. not only does it completely NOT show her feet but the upper body is almost bowing. please do yourself a favour eHow and get rid of this misinformed video.

She is CLUELESS!!! I am old enough to remember a time when a teacher entered a classroom, all the students stood up. The boys bowed and the girls curtsied. And believe you me, we were expected to curtsy properly. What she is showing is a bow while touching her skirt.

Never, ever lean forward. You sink straight down, seeming to sit in mid-air, keeping hips and shoulders perfectly perpendicular to the floor. If you wish to demure, which is considered femininely bashful, do so by turning your head slightly off to the side, avoid eye contact by looking down, while barely tilting your forehead towards the curtsey's recipient. This added head dip is completely optional, and should be avoided in 'business' settings, where face contact (face turned towards someone, though not necessarily with eye contact) should be maintained. And never lift your skirt. Sweep it back and out of the way if necessary, but don't lift it up.

There's no need to lean forward when curtsying - back should be kept straight.

So let me get this right. Europe, a land mass that we consider an entire continent, has one monolithic culture?

The back should be straight. The curtsey developed from the stiff whale bone corseted dresses that prevented a lady from bowing. She therefore kept her back straight, bent the knee to lower herself and bowed her head. In the French court it was usual to turn the head slightly to one side so as not to make eye contact with the sovreign. In the English court it was customary to bow or curtsey to the throne in the presence chamber even if the sovreign were not present. Three distinct bows or curtseys first from the door at which you enter, then from the center of the room approaching the throne and lastly in from of the dais from in front of the bottom step

I have to agree with jaggednought from a year ago, this is a pointless video. We see nothing below the waist. Furthermore, what European country is she talking about when she explains how it's done in Europe? If you look at some of the British royals (all over t.v. or RU-vid), you see curtsying. What about what foot to curtsy on? Nothing was said about that here. From what I've gathered (and I'm no expert), you curtsy on left foot (i.e. right foot goes behind left foot), knees are slightly bent, and the upper body remains straight. You don't go bending forward. I've seen Kate Middleton repeatedly curtsy to the Queen, and that's how she does it, every time. I think I'd rather bet on how Kate does it (at least if in Britain), rather than this person here.

That was not a good description of a curtsy. The video should show your whole body performing it and I don't think it was done properly. A proper curtsy demonstrates subservience. You have not even shown the bend of the knees.

Nothing on the foot positioning?

WOW! I have never seen a post in which the dislikes were double the amount of likes 😂 .... in fairness it is totally incorrect and it doesn’t even talk about what a person is supposed to do with their legs.

I'm no expert, but shouldn't something be said about the forelegs being crossed?

The camera is terrible. A curtsy is a gesture of the entire body- why just show the waist (thigh, at best) - up?

Being English, and having been in situations where I've had to curtsey, this is NOT the right way to do it. The arms, head and shoulders are correct but what good is that when you aren't doing anything with your legs?! Right behind left, left foot flat, right foot point, bend from the knees. Simples.

But that's not how Queen Cersei did it when she taught Shae how to curtsy on Game of Thrones.

A symbol of what by now should be a forgotten relic of an outdated social hierarchy.

the grammar is abysmal in this forum yet there seem to be a lot of experts on etiquette. the irony.

why is the video from the waist up? what is she doing with her feet?

Beautiful lady

1:01 this was the most dump truck of a curtsy on me

You bow your head slightly, your body stays straight.A curtsy is not a bow.

people think you are being silly if you curtsy. It's like saluting.

I think the point of the video was for the featured person to show her smile.

How about when to curtsy?

Academy of refinement & modeling? I REALLY hope she's not teaching that a square tipped french manicure = "refinement."

1:02 I pushed on me curtsy with my dump truck

yes, in europe u sweep one foot behind u as u bow

Hi there. Can you please settle an argument a friend and I are having? I have been trying to tell him that when Lady Gaga meet the Queen of England she 'bowed' he insists she done a curtsy? Can you or anyone here please settle this.

Oh my Lord! Did she get tips from the Mrs. Harkle?

I *Loove* that look ma'am ; )

Not curse for an instance.. Otherwise you can bow a little at your waist to show respect, or simply shake hands.

1:00 oh Rammy!

Can you please come to Australia? Our PM might need your services when talking to the queen :)

No woman grabs hold of her skirt when curtseying these days.Also the queen has made it known that women no longer should feel they HAVE to curtsey.A handshake & a respectful nod of the head is sufficient,for men & women.It's the decision of the individual.

They Bow

1:02 Max groans we need to stop Mummy

hi ,i dont find submission the right thing for a tradition . there are a lot of other things that needs to pass through generations , more important, like knowledge ,and knowledge comes with freedom of the mind not with silly procedures that cultivate that we are not equal socialy .

1:02 Rammy! What the truck are you talking about Macy?

demonstrate the full curtsy guuuurl

@chalicechiq LOL! I have seen the wedding about a million times - I'm English dear! Princess Di did nothing remotely like a Texas dip!!! She didnt go down to the floor and turn her head sideways, That's ludicrous! I have actually never seen that done in all my life. The first time I saw it was on youtube!!!

@PlutoIsDead, what? handshake and kiss on the cheek?? Sorry that would only fly in Europe. It would be totally rude and embarrassing in Asia.

I've met a lot of Roayalty on parties and Gala's so I'm ever so sorry to tell you this, but this is not how one is supposed to curtsy. We are europeans not the Queen of Hearts in Disneyland. You keep you're hands to you're side and then put one foot back en bow form the knies down. and slightly bow you're head. If you were to do pay curtsy to any Royal head the way you do, then the entire Royal family is going to have something to laugh about at a Royal Banquet.

cursty on this big damn ********

Darling, did you got that out of a Disney movie? Please don't do that here in EU. Like never. And do inform yourself before those kind of videos. Lovely smile though!

Grab your hands? I don't think those words mean what you think they do...

Never be d the body...keep it straight....no bowing either...

just say hi

Quite the travesty of a curtsy

This kid knows what's up. She shows the full movement, as well as the variations. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-US3bWX3YAms.html

Who actually curtsys?

whats she talking about? Europeans never go 'all the way down to the floor'. Thats the crazy texas style. We just bend and bow our heads while pulling out the skirt (oh u must smile too)!

@issaclover56 Lol, okay just making sure. :)

That is not how you curtsey. You have to bend one leg slightly and bring the other leg back when you lower your shoulders and head.

i like to curtsy. and im a dude. its fun.

I have to agree with Ashlie... Pitiful, terribly pitiful.

@issaclover56 I do too. Maybe not a lot as you, but I do so. I can't describe it, but I do agree that doing lady things on some level is fun and feels right .

To echo the sentiments of others here. Wrong. That is how to bow whilst playing with your skirt/dress, not how to curtsey.

“It’s obviously of course done by a women”

what do MEN have to do to show respect, humbleness and politeness and other shit??

Totally rubbish. No mention of feet.

You don't even explain the leg crossing? The camera shot is cut at the waist. What kind of amateurish attempt is this? What a joke.

@issaclover56 & You are a lady right?

no !

no such word as alot or ALOT. Just google hyperbole and a half

This is a horrible instructional video about curtsying. It mentions nothing about foot positioning, leg crossing or bending of the knees. Yet it mentions "going to the floor".. How are you supposed to do that when the video's only instruction is "going forward" with your shoulders?

shake hands and look manly

Great camerawork, not!

so many generations of slaves , they made slavary a culture. .

We need more proper ladies.

that is not how you crusty

Sorry, this isn't helpful without showing below her knees in frame. You really need to show foot position. From this video there is no way to tell she isn't just bowing.

Wrong

So short history, no traditions at all. .

Nope, not right

That is not how you curtsy.

Considering how a curtsy is an important part of etiquette in many situations this video is poorly put together. The girl presenting has no particular skill and no eloquence.

YT should delete this video...wtf was that?

This is NOT the proper way to curtsy

Omg this is not how to curtsy. What this was was tragic.

Is this bimbo for real? She has no idea what she's talking about...da?????????

Horrible