Mdlle. Sara (Sarah Wright, active late 1860s-early 1880s), English dancer, who caused a sensation as part of the Colonna Troupe of Can-Can dancers at the Alhambra, Leicester Square, London, in 1871, and who subsequently joined Emily Soldene, appearing in London, Australia and the United States.
(carte de visite photo: The London Stereoscopic & Photographic Co Ltd, London, 1871 or early 1872)
Mdlle. Sara with Emily Soldene’s Company, Cincinnati, 1877
‘Soldene’s New Kicker… .
‘They produced the Grand Duchesse last night, and displayed the great danseuse and champion kicker, ”Sara.” The second scene ushered in the dancers, so anxiously looked for by this masculine audience, viz: M’lle Sara, Miss Slater, Miss Barber and Miss Norton.
‘The premier of this quartette, ”Sara,” said to have been formerly known in New Orleans as ”Wiry Sal,” is a phenomenal dancer and kicker. She is a small woman, with a childish face, rather tawny skin, to judge by her face, and small arms, yellow hair, that is either very wild naturally or cultivated to be, bright, flashing eyes, a small bust and body, rather thin and wiry then other wise, and such legs! They are large, muscular members, that throw out the strong lines of muscle with every motion. Her dancing is wild, and decidedly weird; it is of the fantastic and eminently muscular school. She flashes about the stage like lightning, leasing the fastest music. She whirls like a dervish, until, with the momentum that she acquires as she comes down the stage, it seems impossible that she should keep from dashing down into the orchestra.
‘At times she throws her legs up until her toes are far above her head. She can stand on one leg and shoulder the other as a soldier does his musket. Her assistants in the dance, which is of the can-can order, are all well trained and fine-limbed women, Their dancing last night was greatly applauded, and Sara’s exertions, which threw the audience into a sympathetic perspiration, were cheered wildly to the encore.’
(The Cincinnati Commercial quoted by Public Ledger, Memphis, Tennessee, 17 May 1877, p. 3f)
Footlight Notes 