Ruth St. Denis Nautch Dance 1944

[Mme. Hermine]

Silent but in color!

http://www.chicagofilmarchives.org/collections/index.php/Detail/Object/Show/object_id/8664

[Amy Reusch]

Thank you! I've seen some black & white footage (and have shot a reconstruction of that piece on several occaisions), but I wasn't expecting her skirt to move quite like that, and the "speaking" was interesting to see as well.

[sandik]

I've seen other films of this work that didn't have quite as much "speaking," but the gestures (especially the "oh well" dismissal) were all there. St Denis really knew how to work her costumes -- even at this point in her life, when her other movement is more sketched in than full-bodied, she still has that timing.

The Chicago archives are just churning it out right now -- it's so exciting!