BRILLIANT LA MERI

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 258, 28 July 1936, Page 5

BRILLIANT LA MERI

Great Dancer’s Skilful Interpretations

Another large and enthusiastic audience at the Grand Opera House last night was charmed and captivated and thrilled by the art of La Meri, who achieved yet another triumph in the repetition of her second programme of national dances. In her wonderful interpretations of dances from several countries, La Meri waa many persons in many beautiful and picturesque costumes, but she was always La Meri the great artiste. There was the bracket of Spanish dances, including the gay “Mirando a Espana, the delightful “Goyesca” and the "Jota Aragoneea.” There were, too, the fascinating Eastern dances—the quaint “Bedojo” with the bizarre colouring of Java, the rhythmic Hindu "Lasjonatana” with its captivating hand-play, and the “Danse Arabe,” an adaptation of that performed by Arabian street dancers. Full appreciation was given by the audience of the lovely “Etudes Symphoniques,” the “Adoration of the Virgin,” the “Russian Doll” and the “Gavotte” (danced with Laura Mollica as the courtier). The racial dances included the Red Indian “Hoop Dance,” the “Cueca Cilena” of Chile, the “El Gato” of Argentina and an artistic version of the hula-hula from Hawaii. The many costumes were of remarkable beauty, as. were the varied lighting schemes of Guido Carreras. Supplementary to the programme of Ln Meri, the playing of M. Mario Salerno (pianoforte), Mr. Tom Challen (violin) and Miss Joan Howley (’cello) impressed the audience. The third programme, which will be presented to-night, to-morrow afternoon and to-morrow night, will include "Passepied” (Delibes), “Tango” (Albemz), "Garrotin” (Spanish Gipsy dance), “Geisha Fan Dance,” “Tandava” (Hindu dance), and some of the most popular dances from the other programmes.