The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-07-26
THE DANCE OF THE BAYADERES.
Tho Art OF Psntomime ExempllAed In the Motions
ofNauteh Girls.
Iparia

Paris Figar0.l
The Bayaderes had been ordered to show them
eea gallery he coonaae The
man makes the crowd fall back; for the people
never witness these dances, OF which they are pas
Bayadefes advance with swaying step, accom-
panied by band OF players upon the flute and
solitary note form the basso Of the Concert The
girls walk barefooed In the DUST all wearing silver
rings upon the second toe, a pantaette covers their
petticoat of goldshot silk, supported at the shoulder
descends tnfront to form sort of apron; while a
mar covering hn inc breasts ss only leaves
jewery decorating their necks their ears, and even
their nostrils, produces the effect OF glltterng
leprosy upon their facesfaces that charm, however,
BY their gentle smile and great carressing eyes.
little cap OF gded metal Is placed upon their
smooth black hair, which Is always parted after the
The dances begin
The eight bayaderes, dividing into two companies
OF four, rst dance oil singing In chorus, the musi
clans, dancing and cymbal players crouch
ing down behind them, marking the time, anu occa-
singing WIN them to
nately the gestures of sewers sowing seed In the
fields; they describe the seasons; they mock the dis
pntes OF angry women; they initiate the games OF
Next we have little scenes acted by two persons
they frst act together little scene of conjugal
jealousy, In which one takes the part OF the wife,
and the other that of the husband in dialogue.
"ne was Just passing by, and"
"Go back!-get thee into the house al oncel"
They develop this theme with wonderful arts OF
In another scene two young girls have a conversa-
ton about love. One asks the other, Who is that
young stranger?" The second describes him. and
with an lmpromptu gallantry, inspired by the oc.
caslon, she depicts my mustache, the expression Of
my face, the manner In which | sit; ana when
venture to take some notes she gravely scribbes
with the finger Of her right hand upon the palm OF
her left. The two principal and the two prettlesl
dancers are named Pappal and Amathayle Pappa
in her green trowser., red petticoat the sey-blue
chemfsete, has an air full of amorous misc1leyous
ness; but Amathayle pouts dsdainfuy, and hei
melancholy manner accOrds well with the pale rose
color Of her chemisette and the dark violet Of the
rest Of her costume, sprinked with points of gold
nsn they proceed to charm nn imaginary serpen AM
English and Of Mussulman dances. am told that
when only Hlndoos are present there Is much more
retire at last, accompanied by their mothers, who
visit the temple to witness their exercises, Just as
Paris mothers visit the Conservatory.
To most Europeans these dances seem inslpd.
thought them 30 myself during the first fifteen min
utes OF the performance but as began to perceive
attitude, OF musce-qulvering, of the studied play
the features found myself fascinated by that spec
tacle, and felt an intensity of interest whereof
could never have believed myself capable. Why.
II ia because, by almost imperceptible move
ments, the lips have Thousand different ways o.
ing, the forehead of Frightening, the neck OF cnry
Ing, the bosom of contracting the arms of languish
ing, tue nngerB OF clencnng, the Ieet OF posing, INT
body OF writing. Generations of dancing -womeI
seem, by constant traditional study, to have AT
CURED the power OF subjecting an exceptional mum
| Der OF muscles to the control of the will.
And the reason that European at first does no
dnd any pnasure In this amusement Ia that his eye
has not been sufficiently trained to enable him to dis
tnguish the exqnisltely hne shades OF expression
the varied meaning OF all those gestures aud move
ments-it is because HIS perception has remained
dull for lack OF education Keen attention Is nee
easary In order to become interested In this mimi
cry the closest CONSERVATION Is required In order Il
comprehend the delicacy of the art, and to becom,
passlonatey fond Of 1t demands even more-a re
lined and patient sensualiiy. How could the yivaclou
French mind ever be persuaded that II Is possible Il
experience most peculiar charm by training one
| self to follow for ten whole minutes the slow pro
gressve movement by which pair OF beautiful eyes
| closed as II in sleep, gradually open their lids.
Bnt when you have once become fully initiated
and learned to like this art then you undersan,
everything without effort; then the GOODNESS Of TIT
air about you, maintained by fans and by The actor
| of those ever-moving limbs, lus You to reverie
and under the influence of that slow, drOwsy music
never varied by any strong bursts OF sound, uni
versai languOr takes possession of you, and yol
dream with open eyes-day-dreams whose visions
are real, palpable, and might be touched by meTel
outstretching the hand.