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Alicia Markova & Loie Fuller - Dance bringing light to life

Dance is one of the ways art brings light into people's lives. Here are two examples of visionary artists illuminating the stage in entirely different ways.

Dame Alicia Markova was widely considered to be one of the greatest classical ballet dancers of the twentieth century. Her stage debut in 1920 at the age of 10 was in a Christmas production of pantomime Dick Whittington and His Cat. The performance featured here is Solo and Pas de Deux form "The Nutcracker". Dame Alicia Markova died on 2nd December 2004, one day after her 94th birthday.

Loie (or Louie) Fuller was a pioneer, both of modern dance and theatrical lighting techniques. Born in 1862 she was an early free dance practitioner, developing her own natural movement and improvisation techniques. In 1892 she became one of the first of many American modern dancers who travelled to Europe to seek recognition. In Paris she became one of the leading revolutionaries in the arts and and was often identified with Symbolism. She was one of the era's most influential and celebrated performers and died on 1st January 1928. There is no recording of Fuller performing her famous serpentine dance but this silent tinted film from 1905 gives a flavour of what it would have looked like.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Our Societies support hundreds of local arts and heritage projects. Each day we highlight a grant given in 2021. 

The Arts Society Chipstead will be funding an arts lecture with Arts Society Accredited Lecturer, Matthew Wilson, as part of the Banstead Arts Festival in 2022. The festival brings music, drama and art to Banstead and the surrounding area.

All donations from the Artvent Calendar will go towards The Arts Society’s grant giving fund, which awards grants to help preserve our artistic heritage, support the skills of artists and makers, and improve access to the arts for all.

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Comments

Alicia Markova was exquisite, I have never seen her dance before. Had never heard of Louie Fuller, so that was a fascinating discovery. Thank you!

Gill Jolley Thu, 02/12/2021 - 11:03 Permalink

What an amazing dancer and wonderful person.
I loved this. Thank you

Sandra Sprawson Thu, 02/12/2021 - 10:58 Permalink

Wow! What a wonderful presentation. Never heard of Louie Lortie - he was amazing!

Margaret Barlow Thu, 02/12/2021 - 10:51 Permalink

A wonderful ballerina

sylvia mccann Thu, 02/12/2021 - 10:43 Permalink

I love Love Loie Fuller. It makes my day.

ariane de sary… Thu, 02/12/2021 - 10:28 Permalink

Awesome technique. We’re off to Giselle to ROH tonight - love ballet

Jenny Lebus Thu, 02/12/2021 - 09:53 Permalink

Bliss. I love ballet. Greetings on this bittter morning.

liz simpson Thu, 02/12/2021 - 09:45 Permalink

Lovely to see Markova again. Saw her with Anton Dolin at the Festival Hall, London, in the early fifties. Thank you for this delightful calendar.

Sue Thu, 02/12/2021 - 09:39 Permalink

A delightful surprise which I would never have found myself. What a treat!

Mary-Ann Renton Thu, 02/12/2021 - 09:35 Permalink

Thank you , aren’t they marvellous,a lovely treat on a cold morning.

Tessa oliver Thu, 02/12/2021 - 09:34 Permalink