Both “The Vertical: The Fundamental Principle of Classic Dance” by A.K Volinsky and “The Physiology of Walking” by Wendell Holmes revolve around the concept of verticality and how walking upright is a step towards progress in humans, but the way in which they approach this issue is profoundly different. Each essay leaves a very different impact on the reader: the former leaves us with a notion of superiority while the latter leaves us in awe.