Burning ballerinas

 

Her (Clara Webster) skirts caught one of the jets of gas which was too near the elevated place on which she stood. She began to run, and actually traversed the scene twice in a column of fire, amidst the shrieks of the people, which mingled with her own agonizing cries for help.

 

- Illustrated Times, Dec 13, 1844.

 

Have you ever heard of the “burning ballerinas”? I wouldn’t be surprised if you had not. Admittedly until recently I was in the grey. This ignorance is surprising, as their tragic final performances – catching alight and burning to death on stage – seem fit for a Hollywood script. Their horrific deaths will reinforce why today’s at times draconian health and safety measures are a blessing.

 

During the 1800s these fiery events occurred with disturbing frequency. It is estimated that from London to as far afield as Rio de Janeiro hundreds of Victorian-era ballerinas died this way. The cause was typically a deadly combination of unprotected gas lighting and highly flammable muslin tulle: the fabric used for Romantic tutus. Dancers would only have to err slightly too far down stage, their long tutus drifting towards the unshielded foot lighting, and poof! Gone.

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You can read the rest of this article by Matthew Lawrence in the August/September issue of Dance Australia. Don’t miss out! Buy your copy from your favourite magazine retailer or subscribe here, or purchase an online copy via the Dance Australia app.