Mine Dance Performance

Mine Dance Performance, 1948. Photographic image of mine dancers performing for a large audience. One man is in the center, his back facing the camera, is holding a spear above his head. He is wearing arm and leg bands made of fur and holding a shield in his other hand. There are other men there dressed similarly. Photograph by Constance Stuart Larrabee, 1948.

These images were taken in mining compounds in the Johannesburg area, where African miners, migrant workers recruited from all over southern Africa, lived in segregated quarters. As a form of entertainment, miners performed dances and played music on Sundays. These performances attracted white visitors, who received permission from the white owners of the mines to attend. Constance Stuart captured many of the images in this series during such an event.

There is one 8x10 black and white fiber-based print of this negative in the Constance Stuart Larrabee Collection. EEPA also produced an 8x10 study print for reference purposes.