The sun., 1916-01-30
Jos Phi1,e Nicto1- and James EaSle
~, just a WOMAN"

save in the largest sense Of the word
Ny IDEAS of dancing are in another
direction from theirs. ! conCeiN ed and
created dances before many Of these
movements Mad come to light. had
only vaguely heard OF other dances,
and in both matter and expression
had very different concept my
hiG Ghest ideas being the expression of
not merely n perfect outward form
of beauty and body. but a certain in
ward mystic state Of the mind-things
going far back in the consciousness
that believe can be expressed
through rhythmical movement. but
only from within and in an entirely
individual manner. To this form of
art many people have responded
However. many also do not under
stand what ! try 70 express. nor the
manner Of expressing ii-but | bear
no III will tn the public for this. The
blame lies in my attempt TO do
thing that is so far removed from
the daily experiences OF life. The
beautiful aud the spiritual are what
hold my attention. and that | have
had as much recognition as l have
fills me with much gratitude. Nat
urally when people know more OF any
subject they appreciate its subtleties
and any individual effort in that line.
What do most people know OF
India. Egypt and Japan or their Gus
toms OF dress. habits Of living, their
religious beliefs and their art? Yet
these things for years have studied
in order TO perfect the least OF my
creations.
THE reason my Nautch Dance In
India ~ the best liked is because il
il the best understood. The move
ment and the idea OF the setting are
easily comprehended by an audience
because they are more akin to our
mode OF dress and action. For a new
form of art a large public Is attained
slowly. but l feel sure that in the
future a treme ndous appreciation OF
this new-old art will be manifested in
larger audiences and in better places
to express II in"
after recognition In my own coun-
try and in Europe" she said further.
II like to look back and remember the
eventful day when l was offered a trial
performance in New York. 1t was
! appealed for a Sunday night concert
at vaudeville house. That's one OF
, the most difficult audiences to please
that you ever saw" she continued.
'"rhe hlghbrOws on Sunday nights are
all listening to orchestras or the
operate concerts. You'll find lot
OF people. like commercial travellers
and every day kind Of folk. who want
what they want when they want II.
II you've got the goods, they'll like
YOU,
when I stepped into the theatre
that Sunday night II was with tho dis
concerting realization that ] had spent
my last penny for costumes and
properties II they didn't like me,
was bankrhpted.
"They were not easy to win. that
audience accustomed to broad effects
and obvious points ] vas offering
them a subtle bit of Orientalism. u
symbolic dance revealing the life of
the senses as the Hindus understand
Il. Years Of effort. my whole train
ing az n dancer and an actress. all
my reading and studying were EN-
bodied In what ] was offering at tho
trial performances. You see what a
crisis was facing.
Fortunately for ma, they grasped
my meaning with unmistakable pleas
ure. and the response from them as
the curtain fell lifted . great burden
OF anxiety from my mind. That
| settled II. Vaudeville engagements