South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) runs every year from the 18th July to the 17th August to commemorate, mark and celebrate South Asian cultures, histories and communities.
To celebrate SAHM we are delighted to be able to share some photographs from our Natural Movement collection which were taken 70 years ago, in August 1954.
Natural Movement was a dance form established by Madge Atkinson (1885-1970), founded on a method of barefoot dance and inspired by nature.
Dating from 1905 to 1990 the collection contains manuscripts, scrapbooks, programmes, playbills, scores, costumes and of course photographs.
These photographs are titled ‘Dancing in the Punjab – Pakistan’. All the information we have about the photographs comes from information written on the back of each image but luckily for us the descriptions contain great detail which help us give us an insight into the dances performed and the colour and beauty of the costumes and accessories.
“SHAMIN ARA. A hindu. She was the best we saw & she did a Hindu Dance – this shows her depicting one of the ‘Pastoral’ activities & it is a shepherd blowing his pipe. Clothes. All red – Hair heavily decorated at back with jasmine flowers. Notice HENNA on palms. Also on soles of feet. Said to keep them cool!!!”
“Two girls one (Mirian Taseer) who danced a simple Punjabi Dance in the classical style.
Notice:- 1) Jasmine decorations on hair (it extended all down their plaits at the back)
2) Henna on palms and in rings round their fingers.
3) Bodice of Mirian (on left of photo) which is made from typical Pakistani silk (very harsh)
4) Position of hands.
5) Opposition!!!
6) Colours were gay – Red & yellow usually – Both wore large earings (sic)”
“This is the college where we saw the Punjabi & Hindu Dances.
(with chairs being brought for the performance. We were about to start the last rehearsal – the first with a piano, & this had many of it’s ivory keys ‘nailed’ on).”
“SHAMIN ARA (HINDU)
In pose of Pastoral dance – she had the most interesting & flexible hands. This pose (I think) depicts shoots of different kinds growing.
Notice. Silver earings (sic), jasmine at wrist – 2 skirts: Top one red ‘georgette’ with gold rings embroidered on it, underneath a heavily embroidered skirt that could be seen though the top one. Blouse. Dark red ‘velvety’ material covered with tiny white beads.”
If you would like to view items in our Natural Movement collection please have a look at our online catalogue CalmView and contact us at archives@surrey.ac.uk to book an appointment.
