Die-cut textile label containing the image of a ballet dancer, She stands on her pointed toes and with one arm curved over her head. She wears an ankle-length, full skirt, and broad-rimmed hat. Also contains pictorial details, including flowers and filigree., Embossed and inscribed in border: No. 10 Yds., Cataloging funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (PW-506-19-10), 2010-2012., Gift of Helen Beitler and Estate of Helen Beitler.
Date
[ca. 1855]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department Helen Beitler Graphic Ephemera Collection - Labels [P.2011.10.113]
Full-length portrait of Miss Anna Walters in a tutu dancing en pointe., In Alexander’s express messenger (Apr. 17, 1844), p. [1]., “Miss Walters, one of Philadelphia’s favorite ballerinas, had made her debut at the Walnut a few days earlier, in a solo called Il Pirule Vetteramo, ‘never dancing in this city before’ -- and never again, insofar as we have been able to discover! According to Charles Durang, ‘Miss Walters really displayed infinite grace and immense agility. Her style was the French operatic (i.e., the classical ballet). She had great natural powers for the art but we should judge had never been regularly taught and trained in that graceful school. Her performances were crude at times and quite unfinished, showing that her acquirements were through aptness and tact for imitation. Miss Walters, however, pleased, and that nowadays is quite enough.’” -- Moore, Lillian. George Washington Smith (1945)., “As she appeared in the trial dance from the Bayadere, on her benefit night, at the Walnut Street Theatre, on Tuesday evening, April 9 1844”.
Full-length portrait of Miss Rolla dancing on stage, with a bouquet at her feet., In Frank Leslie's illustrated weekly, vol. 4, no. 92 (Sept. 5, 1857), p. 209., Miss Teresa Rolla was an Italian-born ballet dancer who, shortly after moving to New York City, made her American premiere at Niblo's Garden at the age of nineteen.