Mine Dance Performer

Source catalog description

This description refers to material held by Smithsonian Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art. Visual details below describe the original material.

Mine Dance Performer, 1938. Close-up photographic image of one of the male perfomer's costume. His face is not in the image. He is wearing arm, waist, and leg bands made of fur and is holding a spear. Behind him are other performers dressed similarly and spectators watching in the background. Photograph by Constance Stuart Larrabee, 1938. These images were taken in mining compounds in the Johannesburg area, where African miners, migrant workers recruited from all over southern Africa, lived in segregated quarters. As a form of entertainment, miners performed dances and played music on Sundays. These performances attracted white visitors, who received permission from the white owners of the mines to attend. Constance Stuart captured many of the images in this series during such an event. There are no prints of this negative in the Constance Stuart Larrabee Collection. EEPA produced an 8x10 study print for reference purposes.

Collection

Constance Stuart Larrabee Collection

Archival grouping

Constance Stuart Larrabee Collection / Series 1: Photographs / Photographs / Miners, Johannesburg area

Catalog date

1938

Recorded places

Africa; South Africa; Johannesburg (South Africa)

Cataloged creator or photographer

Larrabee, Constance Stuart

Format and extent

1 Negatives (photographic) ((silver gelatin)., b&w, 6 x 6 cm.); 1 Photographic print ((contact print)., b&w, 6 x 6 cm.)

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