Category Archives: Dancer

The Maharashtra Post

Posted on 11/11/2014 by Anu M

Zee Talkies got a bunch of actors to recreate iconic roles in Marathi cinema for its 2013 calendar. The ones in this post are: Pic 1-Urmila Kanitkar as Shanta Apte in Kunku. Pic 2-Amruta Khanvilkar as Durga Khote in possibly … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930s, 1950s, 1970s, 20th century, Actor, Cinema, Costume, Culture, Dance, Dancer, Early 20th Century, fashion, Film Costuming, Indian Cinema, Indian Dress, Indian fashion, Indian Women, Maharashtra, Movies, Sari, Sari Blouse, sari history, Vintage, vintage fashion, vintage sari | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The 1940s Post

Posted on 22/12/2013 by Anu M

The late 1940s was a time of somewhat boxy, padded blouses.  This blouse on the actress and dancer Suryakumari for example is almost like a man’s shirt (or perhaps more correctly a pyjama top).  As can be seen from the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 20th century, Cinema, Dancer, Early 20th Century, Indian Cinema, Indian fashion, Sari, Sari Blouse, Singer, South India, South Indian Cinema, Vintage Blouse, vintage fashion | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Ancient India Post

Posted on 24/05/2013 by Anu M

Rather just a look at 2 early 20th century paintings recreating the era. From dawn until late into the night I worked. By day I copied the parts of the wall that were well lit, and by night I shifted on to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ancient India, Art, Bengal, Colonial, Costume, Courtesan, Culture, Dance, Dancer, Early 20th Century, fashion, Indian Dress, Paintings, Vintage, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Chinese Brushwork Post

Posted on 20/05/2013 by Anu M

From Ye Qianyu‘s Indian Dancing Gestures – painted in the 1979s (X, X, X)   Zhang Daqian‘s Indian Actress (1950).

Posted in 20th century, Actor, Asia, Chhina, China, Dancer, Vintage, Vintage Blouse, Vintage Dress, Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Nautch Post

Posted on 03/04/2013 by Anu M

Ongoing posts on Indian dance, particularly in the 19th/early 20th century. This painting is Edwin Lord Weeks’  Nautch Girls emerging from the Taj Mahal. Weeks’  paintings of India have a number of quotidian details and I particularly like this one.

Posted in 1880s, 19th century, British Raj, Colonial, Costume, Courtesan, Dance, Dancer, Early 20th Century, Paintings, Vintage, Women | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Tamil Cinema Poster Post

Posted on 14/02/2013 by Anu M

I love that so many old Tamil film posters have just the actresses on them and you get to see different kinds of attire. The first film is Madanamala, where the heroine is a dancer. The second,Devamanohari, features a princess. The … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940s, 1950s, 20th century, Cinema, Courtesan, Dancer, Indian Cinema, Sari, Sari Blouse, Tamil Cinema, Women | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

The Breast-Band

Posted on 25/01/2013 by Anu M
Posted in 1950s, Costume, Dancer, Paintings, Women | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Travancore Sisters

Posted on 20/01/2013 by Anu M

The Travancore Sisters were a famous dancing trio and one of them, Padmini, was a major star in South Indian cinema and also acted in Hindi films. Betsy Woodman’s family lived next door to the sisters and her blog is full of fascinating details about both … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950s, Actor, Dancer, Indian Cinema, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage Blouse | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Ballet Post

Posted on 19/09/2012 by Anu M

  Tamara Karsavina, one of Diaghilev’s ballerinas, in the part of Nirilya/Nerilya in The Talisman. The sari doesn’t appear to have pleats and Karsavina has a body stocking underneath. And although the blouse is loose and prettily edged, its the lovely print … Continue reading →

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The Modern Dance Post

Posted on 18/09/2012 by Anu M

Dance forms in the early 20th century in the west often incorporated oriental elements, be it a tawdry interpretation or a more serious minded approach.  There are probably many ways to look at Ruth St. Denis’ body of work that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910s, Dance, Dancer, Hinduism, Sari, Sari Blouse, Vintage | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment