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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.

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Comments

A wonderful idea for the members

Marian Ramble Thu, 02/12/2021 - 09:26 Permalink

So full of life and movement absolutely fabulous.

Pearl Atkinson Thu, 02/12/2021 - 09:00 Permalink

Amazing! Thank you.

Mel Wyatt Thu, 02/12/2021 - 08:54 Permalink

How miraculous that both of these films have survived. The effects in the Loie Fuller film are very advanced.

Linda Thu, 02/12/2021 - 08:42 Permalink

Wonderful to watch Markova over breakfast! Faultless technique and so interesting to compare her performance to more recent, emotionally nuanced, performances by the Royal Ballet.

Wendy Hartman Thu, 02/12/2021 - 08:37 Permalink

Another gem of a gift

David Taylor Thu, 02/12/2021 - 08:32 Permalink

How graceful the ballet dancer is, to touch one's soul with such energy. Likewise, the silent film reminds me of the dervish dancers, I wonder how they are not dizzy afterwards.

Muriel Lowe Thu, 02/12/2021 - 08:20 Permalink

Another wonderful treat

Pauline Thu, 02/12/2021 - 08:15 Permalink

They are both so different to modern dance.

Barbara p Thu, 02/12/2021 - 08:13 Permalink

Beautiful

Jill allan Thu, 02/12/2021 - 08:09 Permalink