Ella Lola, Turkish Dance

Ella Lola, vintage silver print glossy 8 x 10 photograph depicting a still from the short silent film "Turkish Dance." Created and published by Thomas A. Edison, Inc., 1898.

Image circa 1898; printed in the second half of the 20th century as part of the American Heritage Publishing Archive.

Verso bears original handwritten ID notations and credit stampings. In very good condition.

A young, dark-haired woman performs a period "Oriental" dance (commonly known as a belly dance) with some Turkish styling. She performs distinctive dance movements that include shoulder shimmies with pelvic movements and several foot patterns, side traveling movements with pelvic circles, a slow pelvic circle and a front pelvic lock, and paddle turns with various arm gestures. Her dance costume consists of a two-layered skirt to the knee, a hip belt with fringe, a chemise-like shirt under a fitted vest, several layers of necklaces and front decoration, white stockings, white--perhaps ballet--shoes, and a glittering fitted cap.

Provenance: From the American Heritage Publishing Archives.