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 / Russell Roberts Pty. Ltd

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

Studio portrait of a young woman in ballet costume striking a pose with arms behind her back

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

Mr Webber and Miss Buchanan showing the correct way to dance

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.

Ballet school, Wash. Sq. [i.e., Washington Square] players (LOC)

Ballet school, Washington Square players c. 1915

Miss Finney dancing, Montreal, QC, 1923

Miss Finney dancing, Montreal, QC, 1923

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

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, / Sam Hood

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

 

"Aurora's wedding" with Tamara Toumanova, Michael Panaieff, Anton Vlassoff and Oleg Tupine, 1940.

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

Halina Schmolz & Alex Volinin  (LOC)

Halina Schmolz & Alex Volinin c. 1910-1915

Helene Kirsova, ballerina, ca. 1947 / photographer unknown

Anna Pavlova c. 1947

Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn in Egyptian Ballet.

Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn in Egyptian Ballet.

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

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 ca 1925

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

 

Melba L. Procter & H.E. Marshall Hall [Ballet] (LOC)

Melba L. Procter & H.E. Marshall Hall c. 1920

Thamar Karsarvina  (LOC)

Thamar Karsarvina between ca. 1910 and ca. 1915

Dancer at Tivoli Theatre

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 / photographer unknown

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

Valrene Tweedie as an Odalisque in 'Scheherazade', Chicago, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, 1947-48 / Maurice Seymour

Valrene Tweedie as an Odalisque in ‘Scheherazade’, Chicago, Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, 1947-48

 

Balletitantsijad / Ballet dancers

Ballet dancers c 1887

 

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

Alison Lee, stage name Helene Lineva and star of the Original Ballet Russe, 1939-1940

 

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