|
| A DANCE IN THE STREET OF CAIRO THEATRE - "The
young woman in the centre of the stage, who is represented in books
of travel as an Eastern houri, is about to render the celebrated danse du
ventre, and it will be seen that practice in the
movement of her body rather than her feet has greatly developed her
abdominal region. We are to understand that this development has
increased her beauty in the Oriental imagination, as it has certainly
lessened it according to Western canons of taste. The music which
will accompany this performance will be of a most monotonous
character, the drums, particularly, hurting the ordinary ear with
their increasing sharp beats. Stamping her foot forward, the dancer
will move her shoulders up and down, increasing the contortions of
her body, striking the castanets she carries, whirling sometimes, but
more often stamping forward, each time to a posture nearer the floor,
until, as she seems to expire in the excitement of the rapid music
and cries of the musicians, other houris rise from their couch and
take her place, or join her, waving long strips of illusion or lace
in a graceful and rhythmic manner. No ordinary Western woman looked
on these performances with anything but horror, and at one time it
was a matter of serious debate in the councils of the Exposition
whether the customs of Cairo should be faithfully reproduced, or the
morals of the public faithfully protected. All Asiatic, African and
some Muscovite dances resembled one another." |
