16. Otaheitan dancer – oil on canvas (14" by 18")

The ‘heiva’ was preformed in theatres in London and other European cities by dancers imitating what they thought were the movements of the dance. Likewise on the same ‘bill' were examples of dances of the Hottentots and other exotic entertainments. These were but pale imitations of the reality. Here the illustration attempts to show what was the true joy of the dance.

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