New-York tribune., 1918-02-26

Audience Boos
''Nude Dancer
Uproar When Miss Moller
Seems to Shed Filn1y
Drapery

Miss Helen Moller, the interpreta-
tive dancer who appeared with her
pupils in recital at the Metropolitan
Opera House yesterday afternoon, also
appeared, according to the testimony
OF persons in the audience. in nothing
else at all. Those who remained until
the closing numbers of her programme
say that She displayed herself abso-
lutely nude during the course of her
dance to the music of Sibclius's "Valse
Tristc"
On the other hand Miss Moler said
last night that she did nothing of the
sort. She insisted that she appeared,
as in her other numbers, clad in a
filmy chiffon drapery. If there was
more exposure than was fitting she
blames that on mistake by the cleo
trician, who. she says. instead of shin
ing graybluc light upon her envel-
oped her in the glare of spotlight.
Miss Moller and her pupils were ac-
companied by the Orchestral Society
of New York. AS this began the strains
of the "Nalse Triste" she bounded upon
the stage, wearing, as far as the audi
ence could see, only d veil Of gauze
that was little or no protection from
cyesg ght, let alone the February at
mosphcre. She danced in and out of
the light, and at the conclusion, ac-
cordng to witnesses, let the veil fall
from her body, and stood completely
revealed to the audience.
a thick and Vastly gasp arose from
all over the house. There was a mo-
mcnt of absolute silence and then
Kisses and booing began. These CON
tinued undated, while a number of
persons aroseand left the house hastilv
The Kissing continued between num-
bers and rose TO greater heights when
the dancer appeared to "interpret" the
Tschaikowsky overture "1S12.' Booing
and shouts of disapproval accompanied
, this number although this time Miss
Mollcr held fast to her veil.
The closing number, which began
with Sousa march and concluded with
The STAR -Spanged Banner with
Miss Moller and her pupils appearing
with huge American flag, was greeted
with frosty silence. Immediately
thereafter the audience adjourned to
the lobby and talked it over at length
before dispensing
Persons who were in the wings when
Miss Moller did her dance, assert that
she appeared for moment absolutely
/ nude. In statement issued last night
the dancer contradicts their testimony
and that OF the audience in general.
Miss Moller authorized the following,
which was given out by her manager
/ Curtis Dunham. She herself could not
be seen.
According TO the pure Greek art
as shown by its statuary, which is
mostly founded on the Greek dance
there is nothing lewd in the nude
but, on the contrary, it expresses the
most beautiful conception in nature
1t is the attempt to decorate the nude
that makes It suggestive.
In Miss Moller's art, she tries not
10 be a modern day conformist with
many artticialties. but rather an in
terpreter OF the ,esthetic and classic
ideals. through spontaneous rhythmic
expression and 10 costume herself in
light draperies which conform to the
natural lines of the body"
Mr. Dunham then explained that in
stead of gray-blue light, such as had
been used in all other dances, the cleo
tricians shot q spotlight upon his prin-
cipal in this number. He bames her
apparent nudity on that
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, w Va.