DANCING GIRL IN BELGIUM

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1929, Page 16

DANCING GIRL IN BELGIUM

STORY OF CONTINENTAL TOUR. ACTION BY LONDON AUTHORITIES. Anxiety has been caused recently to those interested in the welfare of the theatrical profession by revelations of the conditions under which British dancing girls and variety artists are sometimes induced to go abroad, and of the hardships they suffer. A special meeting of the London County Council Public Control Committee made inquiries into the adventures of a troupe of dancers on the Continent, and as a result the committee refused to grant a license to Miss Jennings to carry on a London employment agency, and revoked the license of another agent, Wallace. It was alleged that Miss Jennings carried on a stage dancing school, and that in December, 1925, Wallace entered into an agreement with a coloured man in Brussels, becoming his sole representative for six months. Wallace then approached Miss Jennings, who obtained six girls to go to Brussels on a four weeks’ dancing contract at a salary of f l a week.

On the day of their arrival in Brussels the girls were taken to a club which is open primarily for gabling. The next day they were told that their work was poor, and that they would not be wanted again. The troupe rehearsed on their own, and subsequently appeared at tho club again, but the engagement was obviously for one week only, although the girls had been promised a month’s contract.

Later on the dancers were, sent to Luxembourg, but they discovered . that they were expected to appear in a disorderly house. They then went to Ghent. They had received less than half their salaries, and applicants to Wallace and Miss Jennings for outstand-

ing wages since their return to England had been unsuccessful. One girl stated in evidence that at the Madrid Cafe, Luxembourg, they were informed that they had not been expected for some days, but that they could stay on if they care and sell champagne un- ' til 4 o’clock in the morning. No salary | would be paid, but they would get a commission on the champagne sold. Another witness said that men tried to force their way into her room at the Madrid Cafe. Other girls gave similar evidence. The passport officer read letters from the British Vice-Consul at Brussels and the British Consul at Luxembourg stating that the Madrid Cafe had an evil reputation.