The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-07-11
SAME AS The MIDWAY
Danse du Ventre Given at the
Imperial Music Hail.
Disguised Under the Name Of the
Honolulu"
This, Too, In the Heart Of the
Tenderloin District.

1.-THE Great Original Honolulu Dance"
is billed as one of the attractions at the
Imperial Music Hall, and has become
a popular number of the programmes.
To persons not connoisseurs in the many
branches OF terpsichorean art which have
recently confused even those whose dis
elimination Is the result OF persistent
study, there lie strange and particularly
vivid similarity in this dance OF alleged
Pacific Island origin to the prescribed
''danse du ventre."
OF course. the authority OF the man
agement should be taken a final on the
question, and the line announcing the
Hawaiian extraction OF the series of
caperings and contortions, which make
up the act. should be sufficient TO allay
incipient comparison. Yet there Is
something or rather. whole lot OF
something's about 1t that are distinctly
reminiscent OF the Midway Plaisance.
from the first droning notes OF the
weird pipe so entirely identified with
the harem dance displayed at Chicago
And again there occurs to the average
spectator who is not thoroughly up-to-
date on the subject OF National cos
tune that Sandwich Islanders are not
ACCUSE OHltu 10 BdTD themselves III tHe
coberebby attire OF the odalisque of the
Orient. But perhaps this is only an
other instance OF the license INDUCED in
by dramatists and novelists. who some
times permit a Hamlet TO carry an
Arizona dirk in lien of a dagger, and a
native South African belle to sport pink
and shell like ears.
However, all these arguments may ar.
ray themselves before the confused mind
of him who seeks vainly to classify and
define modern spectacular dances, there
is a definite suspicion that Mile. Iara
reproduces the danse du ventre IN ITS
the surcingle, which alone seems TO con
fine the major portion OF her raiment,
might give may under the contortions
to which she subjects that, portion OF
her body Immediately beneath It
The act is participated in by lara and
an Egyptian named Hadj Cheriff &C
cordns to the bile Had 5iI perf sssn,s MS Il.
whiri OF the dervisn. While her partner
81 spinning about like an animated top,
drum-head stretched over II. All this
time she sits stoliily and impcrturbcd,
as though rapid motion we're an impossi
bllity to her
As the music begins her facial mus
cles witch convulsiycly. her head be
gins TO sway. while her feet keep time
in a shifting motion. Gradually the
movement extends throughout her body
and the customary abdominal contor-
| tions are gone through The dance con
cludes with a simulated abandon OF pas
sion as the dancer falls half-swooning
to the floor. An encore is quite the
usual thing.
Manager Kraus. OF The Imperial, was
asked by an "EveninG World reporter
il the alleged Honolulu lance vas not
| the dance du ventre.
! Not at all" nc replied There Is abb
| 5 1lutr,y nothing Objectionable. about tho
dance, and it is a very popular par OF
clothed from head TO foot. She even
! wears trousers that eNe,nd TO her YER!
| ankles"
He made no attempt to,Teconcile the
| fact that tho Hawaiian dance was per
| formed In oriental costume nor does he
say how an Egyptian happens to appear
| with the dHnscuSC.