Danses slaves | 1900 | Dance, Documentary, Short

Title: Danses slaves | 1900 | Dance, Documentary, Short Studio: La Société Phono-Cinéma-Théâtre Starring: Jeanne Chasles, Achille Viscusi Release Date: April 28, 1900 Format: 35 mm; synchronized cylinder sound Country: France Language: Silent Genres: Dance; Documentary; Short --- Chapters: 00:00:00 Stage introduction 00:00:40 Lyrical opening steps 00:01:25 Partner dialogue in movement 00:02:10 Accelerated figures 00:02:50 Final flourish and exit --- Summary: A showcase of partnered character dancing, Danses slaves presents Jeanne Chasles and Achille Viscusi performing a staged “Slavonic” number typical of Belle Époque variety programs. The choreography alternates measured, courtly passages with whirling turns and brisk footwork, highlighting contrast between slow and fast sections and the interplay of the partners. Filmed for exhibition as part of an early synchronized-sound program, the piece emphasizes presentational performance over narrative, preserving a period style that draws on popular Central and Eastern European dance idioms circulating in Paris at the turn of the century. --- Background: Produced for the Phono-Cinéma-Théâtre program at the Exposition Universelle in Paris, which publicly premiered synchronized sound films on April 28, 1900, Danses slaves was presented with sound played from a wax cylinder while the 35 mm image was hand-cranked to match. The Cinémathèque française lists the work in the Phono-Cinéma-Théâtre repertoire, crediting performers Jeanne Chasles and Achille Viscusi, with music by William Marie. --- Trivia: The Phono-Cinéma-Théâtre system synchronized projected images with phonograph cylinders and was among the first sound film presentations offered to the public. Danses slaves appears in the Cinémathèque française’s catalog of restored Phono-Cinéma-Théâtre titles, confirming its performers and program placement. Many Phono-Cinéma-Théâtre films were rediscovered in 1961 and later restored, enabling modern reconstructions of image-and-sound synchronization. Composer William Marie , credited for the music, published historical dance reconstructions in the late 1890s and collaborated with Parisian dancers during the Exposition. Some contemporary program notes and later references list the title in the plural as “Danses slaves,” reflecting its structure in slow and fast sections. --- Public Domain / Rights: Original Release: April 28, 1900 Original Studio / Distributor: La Société Phono-Cinéma-Théâtre Copyright Status: Public Domain Renewal: No --- Hashtags: DansesSlaves 1900Cinema PhonoCinemaTheatre JeanneChasles SilentFilm EarlySound PublicDomain This video was sourced from Internet Archive. Originally uploaded by Marguerite Vrignault. https://archive.org/details/danse-slave-1900-directed-by-marguerite-vrignault