This compilation brings together films from 1897 to 1925. As one of the most gracious expressions of movement, dance has always been among the favorite subjects of the moving images. Starting with early recordings of stage performances, such as the spectacular serpentine (or butterfly) dance invented by Loie Fuller, many dances that were popular around the turn of the century were not only simply recorded off the stage, but sometimes became the main theme of fiction films. Also, the exotic and colorful folkloric costumes that go with the dances appeal to the cinematographers and their audiences. This programme contains not only documentary examples of tango, ballet, and various folkloric dances, but also short comedies about people dancing. Although the films did not have sound, they were always accompanied by live music. However, this programme also contains one of the earliest sound recordings: Dickson Experimental Sound Film from 1897 by Edison.
Kri Kri e il Tango 5’
Les Parisiennes 1897 1’
Little Tich 6’37
Creation de Serpentine? 2’
Danse de Ouled Nails 2’
Danses Cosmopolites; 4’13”
Rosalie et son phono 4’
Dansen 11’ / [Kazotsky (Kozak) dance, apache dance, ballet]
Serpentine compilation 3′
Caligula fragment of dance Napierkowska 8′
Kinetoscope (1913, 6’) [The Musical Blacksmiths or Nursery Favorites]/
Belly dance Ella Lola 1’
Dickson Experimental Sound Film from 1897 1’
Music by John Sweeney (Piano)
Presentation by Elif Rongen Kaynakçı