AROUND THE WORLD... in blackface?

 

I came upon this photo today, in the depths of ebay. The vendor had just labelled it 'Italian dancers to be identified'. I turned it over. Lille 30 April 1877. 

Giovannina PARMIGIANI 'première danseuse du théâtre de milan' and Almerinda PASTORE 'première danseuse du Théâtre-Lyrique' ...

The photo was taken during a long-touring production of LE TOUR DU MONDE and, yes, Parmigiani is blacked up (at least I think she is) to dance the rôle of 'La Negresse' ...

The spectacle had been played at the Porte-Saint-Martin a couple of years before the tour which untied our two star dancers ..

and it would make regular returns to Paris thereafter ...

Le Monde artiste wrote, on the occasion of the show's appearance as Saint-Étienne (4 July 1877): 'Que dire, en effect, sure les gracieuses et charmantes Mlles Pastore et Parmigiani, dont le succès pendant un mois a été en s'accentuant de jour en jour, et poue lesquelles la sirée d'adieu n'a été qu'une longue suite d'ovations parsemées de bouquets.

Qu dire! si ce n'est pas le pas de cheval et les variations sur les pointes dansées par Mlle Pastore nous ont permis d'applaudir et apprécier le beau talents de cette jeune et jolies choréographe

Que dire de Mlle Parmigiani, une négresse aux dents blanches, do la légèreté et la souplesse se faisaient admirer pas ses pas d'une vitesse vraiment étourdissante ...

Mlle Pastore went on to become danseuse étoile at Brussels (1890), the Porte Saint-Martin (1890). the Châtelet (Cendrillon 1891, 'un ballet éblouissant' in Mme L'Amirale 1892, Le Tour du Monde 1893). I note when she crosses to Brussels in 1890 she gives her name in the records as simply 'dite' Linda Almerinda Pastore. So who knows what her real name was!

Mlle Parmigiani appears in the lists as prima ballerina at Bordeaux, Nantes (Robert le diable) ..  and at Lille in 1879 billed as 'première danseus du Théâtre de la Scala de Milan' .. I see the funeral of her sister Augustine in 1882, and several choreographic credits .. and this splendid article from Cannes ..

Anyway, I thought this photo should be saved and identified ...