16.00 USD
Here is a delightful image, by Monsieur Ogerau of Paris, of Belle Époque dancer Suzy Deguez performing her signature dance.
Mlle. Deguez made quite a name for herself performing something called the "Danse des Cheveux," or "Hair Dance." We haven't yet uncovered anything definite on the origin of Mlle. Deguez' dance, but think it's probable that it was an interpretation of the Danse des Cheveux performed by young unmarried women among the Berber people of Morocco.
La Belle Époque was an era in which interpretive soloists, whether classically trained, like Cleo de Merode, or less so, like Mata Hari, could become wealthy and famous by performing versions of centuries-old dances originating in foreign lands where, in the early 1900s, the European powers maintained colonies.
Although Deguez' Hair Dance was probably drawn from North African sources, and Mata Hari's best known work was apparently based upon Indonesian temple dances, Mata Hari, on at least one occasion, argued against Deguez' right to perform certain routines, claiming that they were too close to her own. This kind of dispute was not at all uncommon at that time, and would sometimes have to be settled in courts of law.
The Berber Danse des Cheveux, perhaps originating in Tunisia, was sometimes prepared for by soaking the dancer's hair in water and oil, and then rubbing the hair with sand, in order to stiffen the strands, allowing for better range of motion. Below we have a link to four interpretations of middle eastern hair dances in which the dancers' hair show not the slightest sign of being dredged in sand, but are great fun just the same. :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQyohrTlSiM&list=PL56380FB8868585BD&index=3
A wonderful card with some wear to edges and corners. Please examine our high res scans for detail.
Postage is for first class shipping in a secure photo mailer, and we happily combine shipping on all paper goods. If you purchase two cards, we will refund the postage on the second card, and when you purchase three or more cards from us at the same time, your shipping will be entirely free, except for international orders which, because of sudden increases in international shipping rates will still be charged one card's shipping fees on orders of three or more.
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redpoulaine.blogspot.com
where we post biographical and historical tidbits, images of cards and photographs for sale, some already sold but remembered fondly, related images of historical interest and sometimes even images of items that have not yet arrived in the shop, but that are expected to arrive soon, as well as coupon codes, links to other related sites, and more!