The forecast heatwave seems to have arrived in full force today and it’s far too hot to actually dance, so here are some vintage photos of people dancing their socks off to keep us all entertained. Thinking about doing exercise is almost as good as doing it, right?
Oh, and I’d like to know your opinion. I suspect the ballet dancers pictured in 1887 are actually all men in drag – what do you think? Also, which is your favourite costume?

Leon Woizikowsky as the golden slave and Nina Raievska as Zoebeide in Scheherazade, Monte Carlo Russian Ballet, 1937

tudio portrait of a young woman in ballet costume striking a pose with arms behind her back. She wears a headscarf, bracelets, dancing costume and ballet shoes. She poses against a cloth backdrop representing a road and riverbank. 1910

Photograph taken for a Truth newspaper feature on Mr S.G. Webber and Miss Dora Buchanan, who had won the Australian Championship for ballroom dancing. The couple gave classes at their studio in Ewing House, Adelaide Street, Brisbane. Photograph taken April 1932.

Alison Lee, stage name Helene Lineva and star of the Original Ballet Russe, 1939-1940, posing in the studio, Sydney / photographer Max Dupain

Colonel de Basil’s “Original Ballet Russe” (Russian Ballet) season, Theatre Royal, Sydney, 1939-1940

Rehearsal for “Aurora’s wedding” with Tamara Toumanova (wearing the fur coat) , Michael Panaieff, Anton Vlassoff and Oleg Tupine, 1940.

Tatiana Riabouchinska and Roman Jasinsky in Les Dieux mendiants (The Gods go a-begging), between Nov 1938-Aug 1940 / photograph by Max Dupain

Gwen Caine of Bowen ready for a dancing recital. She is seen in her dancing costume, posing on pointe. 1925

This image shows an exotic dancer ‘Terpoichore:’ performing at the Tivoli Theatre. The inscription reads: “To Little Eunice, from Terpoichore” c. 1935

Harry Furniss, (who worked in Australia as Paul Furniss), actor, director, author, singer and dancer, ca. 1927-1939
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