Mine Dance Performers

Mine Dance Performers, 1948. Photographic image of several men standing side by side. They are wearing leg bands made of white fur and holding sticks and shields. They are performing a mine dance for a large audience in the background of the image. 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 are no prints of this negative in the Constance Stuart Larrabee Collection. EEPA produced an 8x10 study print for reference purposes.