One of the earliest popular genres of publicly exhibited movies consisted of footage of well-known dancers of the 1890s. This movie is a rather bland example of the genre - although it shows footage of what was billed as a sensual display, it's unlikely that it will make anyone's pulse rate increase, and it is only mildly interesting at best.
Princess Ali was one of the performers in the Barnum & Bailey Circus at the time, and was known for her Egyptian dance, which was also called by a variety of other names. In this studio performance, she takes center stage, with some musicians in the background. The dance routine probably loses a lot without the music and the atmosphere it provides, and in any case the performance is unremarkable.
In a sense, the musicians probably provide the main point of interest, in that by being visible but unheard they highlight one of the things that is missing compared to a live performance. As film-makers worked within the constraints of silent cinema, they soon began to learn how to make up for the lack of sound by using other resourceful techniques. But this was made very early in the history of the movies, and it is probably one example of how this hard-earned experience was gained.
Princess Ali was one of the performers in the Barnum & Bailey Circus at the time, and was known for her Egyptian dance, which was also called by a variety of other names. In this studio performance, she takes center stage, with some musicians in the background. The dance routine probably loses a lot without the music and the atmosphere it provides, and in any case the performance is unremarkable.
In a sense, the musicians probably provide the main point of interest, in that by being visible but unheard they highlight one of the things that is missing compared to a live performance. As film-makers worked within the constraints of silent cinema, they soon began to learn how to make up for the lack of sound by using other resourceful techniques. But this was made very early in the history of the movies, and it is probably one example of how this hard-earned experience was gained.