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Photo by Dotty Motta
Yeah. Misha performs with Raqs a Dunya bellydance at the 2006 Sarasota Medieval Faire. Drummers (L to R): Misha's hubby Brian, Shawn Bowman, GJ Gossman.
Turn-of-the-century Paris was an international mecca for female dance soloists. Many came from abroad. Although women were a rarity at the Paris Opera, many served as ballet mistresses at less illustrious institutions such as the Folies Bergere which had its own ballet troupe.
One of the most colorful figures in the history of dance, Mata Hari (1876-1917) was a Dutch exotic dancer, courtesan and convicted spy who was executed by firing squad in France on October 15, 1917 under charges of espionage for Germany during World War I. Her dance repertory was as exotic as her origin in the Dutch East Indies. Her dances traversed the world, ignoring borders and the niceties of national style, especially in the Salome works that she presented in the decade before World War I. Some contemporary critics thought Mata Hari superior to Isadora Duncan as a dancer. She brought Salome’s dance of the seven veils to Paris music halls. At the end of her veil dance, she fell prone to the floor and simulated orgasm. She first did this in 1904, years before Vaslav Nijinsky created a major artistic sensation by doing the same thing in his performance of “The Afternoon of a Faun.”
Mata Hari attempted to join Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes and her audition ended in disaster. Diaghilev and his assistants insisted that she audition for them in the nude. She found this condition insulting but submitted to it, only to be humiliatingly rejected.
I don't imagine Amy Butler had "belly dance costume" in mind when she published her pj pants pattern, but here I am dancing in them. (Adjusted to be low rise, cropped and with no side seam. All other seams are french seams.)
Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, better known by her stage name Mata Hari, was born on August 7, 1876, in Leeuwarden, Netherlands. She gained fame as an exotic dancer and courtesan, captivating audiences with her alluring performances and seductive charm. Mata Hari's career took off in Paris, where she became a sensation, known for her elaborate, Javanese-inspired dance routines that pushed the boundaries of traditional performance art. Her striking beauty and enigmatic persona made her one of the most famous women of her time.
Despite her success, Mata Hari's life was marked by personal tragedy and hardship. She married Dutch colonial army captain Rudolf MacLeod in 1895, but the marriage was tumultuous and ended in separation. After returning to Europe, Mata Hari struggled financially and turned to dancing to support herself. Her performances in Paris and other major cities brought her wealth and fame, but also attracted the attention of powerful men, including military officers and politicians.
During World War I, Mata Hari's life took a dramatic turn when she was accused of being a German spy. The French authorities arrested her in 1917, and she was put on trial for espionage. Despite her claims of innocence, she was found guilty and sentenced to death. Mata Hari was executed by firing squad on October 15, 1917, in Vincennes, near Paris. Her story has since become a symbol of the femme fatale, and her life continues to inspire books, films, and other works of art.
Mata Hari's legacy is a complex one, with debates surrounding the extent of her espionage activities and the fairness of her trial. Some historians believe she was used as a scapegoat by the French authorities, while others argue that she may have indeed been involved in espionage. Regardless, her life remains a fascinating tale of glamour, tragedy, and intrigue.
[Sources: Wikipedia, and Encyclopedia Britannica]
[Note: The costume in the photo is likely that of Salome's Dance of the Seven Veils, a dance Mata Hari often performed in Paris salons and music halls.]