Danse Serpentine

The Serpentine Dance

by Lumière Brothers

France - 1896

Short Film - 1mn

B&W and hand-colored frame by frame

Silent film

ScreenplayAuguste and Louis Lumière

MusicSilent

CastMary Louise Fuller (Loïe Fuller)

GenreDocumentary

First ReleaseNovember 25, 1896 (France) – June 19, 1899 (Italia)

ProductionAuguste and Louis Lumière

SynopsisA dance performance of pioneer modern dancer Loie Fuller.

AboutDanse Serpentine, film by the Lumière brothers n° 765. This “Serpentine dance” was invented by Loie Fuller, an American-born choreographer living in France. The invention of electricity completely changed theater and dance. The dance became artificially lighted and allowed the discovery of the dancing body. Loie Fuller is the first dancer to have used electricity and radium for her shows. First attempt in making the body an abstraction, this dance was filmed and projected by the Lumière brothers, and is the first dance ever filmed. This film was made in black and white and colored frame by frame.

With the courtesy ofAssociation des Frères Lumière