Not currently on display at the V&A

Dance Costume

mid 20th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Headscarf worn by a dancer for Vintage Rhythms, performed by dancers of Natural Movement.

Natural Movement was established by Madge Atkinson (1885-1970), initially in Manchester in the early years of the 20th century. Madge was a barefoot dancer who drew inspiration from movement in nature (water, the breeze, etc) and from the natural movements of the human body. Along with her contemporaries Ruby Ginner and Margaret Morris, she pioneered modern dance in Britain.

Vintage Rhythms was a group work choreographed by Madge Atkinson to parts of Liadov's Biroulki Opus 2 (1876), a series of 14 piano pieces. It celebrated a rural community with dances called To the Harvest, Fruit Gathering, Waggon Hauling and Unloading, Grape Treading and Harvest Festival.

Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Dyed cotton
Brief description
Headscarf worn by a dancer for Vintage Rhythms, performed by dancers of Natural Movement
Physical description
Headscarf dyed green, purple and mauve. The scarf has carefully rolled and stitched edges with one side being a selvedge.
Dimensions
  • Length: 100cm
  • Width: 86.5cm
Credit line
Given by Francine Watson Coleman on behalf of the Natural Movement organisation
Object history
Acquired as a part of the Natural Movement Collection.
Summary
Headscarf worn by a dancer for Vintage Rhythms, performed by dancers of Natural Movement.

Natural Movement was established by Madge Atkinson (1885-1970), initially in Manchester in the early years of the 20th century. Madge was a barefoot dancer who drew inspiration from movement in nature (water, the breeze, etc) and from the natural movements of the human body. Along with her contemporaries Ruby Ginner and Margaret Morris, she pioneered modern dance in Britain.

Vintage Rhythms was a group work choreographed by Madge Atkinson to parts of Liadov's Biroulki Opus 2 (1876), a series of 14 piano pieces. It celebrated a rural community with dances called To the Harvest, Fruit Gathering, Waggon Hauling and Unloading, Grape Treading and Harvest Festival.
Collection
Accession number
S.29-2020

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Record createdJanuary 30, 2020
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