Not currently on display at the V&A

Poster

1951 (printed)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Poster advertising Pearl Primus 'and her company of dancers, singers and musicians', performing Dark Rhythms, at the Princes Theatre (now Shaftesbury), from October 31st 1951.

Primus' dancing was famed for it's energy and physical daring, and her 'primitive'-influenced choreography. She could leap up to five feet in the air, as referenced by the photography on this poster. She based much of her early performance on the work of black writers and racial issues, later drawing on subjects from a variety of black cultures and figures, ranging from African stonecutters to Caribbean religious practices to rural life in the American South. Her company's performance in Dark Rhythms had two themes: African male rituals, and Primus' experience as a black American.


Object details

Category
Object type
Materials and techniques
Offset lithography on paper
Brief description
Poster advertising Pearl Primus 'and her company of dancers, singers and musicians' at the Princes Theatre (now Shaftesbury), commencing October 31st 1951.
Physical description
Black typography on yellow background, with image of Pearl Primus dancing with left leg in the air behind her body, bent at knee, and left arm out in the same direction. Text at top reads "Princes" and has further information about the theatre, and at bottom reads "Pearl Primus and her company of dancers, singers and musicians / Direct from New York / First Time in Europe"
Dimensions
  • Height: 51.7cm
  • Width: 32.4cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • PRINCES / General Manager and Licensed by the Lord Chamberlain to BERT B. HAMMOND, O.B.E. DIRECTION - BERTRAM MONTAGUE / THEATRE, SHAFTESBURY AVENUE / Phone: TEM. 6596 Evenings 7.30 except Wednesdays & Saturdays, 5.30 & 8.30 Commencing October 31st / by arrangement with JACK HYLTON / CONTINENTAL OPERA & BALLET ENTERTAINMENTS LTD. / present / PEARL PRIMUS / and her company of dancers, singers and musicians / Direct from New York / FIRST TIME IN EUROPE
  • Transliteration
Subject depicted
Summary
Poster advertising Pearl Primus 'and her company of dancers, singers and musicians', performing Dark Rhythms, at the Princes Theatre (now Shaftesbury), from October 31st 1951.

Primus' dancing was famed for it's energy and physical daring, and her 'primitive'-influenced choreography. She could leap up to five feet in the air, as referenced by the photography on this poster. She based much of her early performance on the work of black writers and racial issues, later drawing on subjects from a variety of black cultures and figures, ranging from African stonecutters to Caribbean religious practices to rural life in the American South. Her company's performance in Dark Rhythms had two themes: African male rituals, and Primus' experience as a black American.
Collection
Accession number
S.4119-1994

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Record createdApril 29, 2008
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