Maud Allan and The Vision of Salomé

"I was drawn to this project because Maud Allan truly has an extraordinary story that took place in an equally captivating setting -- Edwardian London. It really is a tale that has something for everyone: drama, tragedy, romance, murder … it’s all entwined in the life and career of this fascinating Toronto-born dancer." – Curator Katelyn Roughley
> "During 1908, when Maud reached the height of her stardom, Britain was experiencing its golden age. For high-society women, life was filled with leisurely garden parties, great affluence and sumptuous dining. The fashion of the day was very conservative. Women wore these fantastic oversized, floppy hats called “picture hats” that they paired with elaborately corseted dresses and thick stockings, since, of course, going barelegged or barefoot, even around the house, was rather racy." – Curator Katelyn Roughley
> "So, when Maud Allan walked out on stage at the Palace Theatre dancing to The Vision of Salomé in no more than a modern-day bikini, she caused quite a stir. When I first read about Maud’s London debut, all I could envision was an episode of Downton Abbey and how aghast the grandmother’s face would have appeared if she ever laid eyes on Maud’s sparkling brassiere!" – Curator Katelyn Roughley
> "She certainly caused enough scandal to be on one of BBC’s dramas, but London audiences absolutely adored her! She contrasted the period’s conservative conventions with her provocative costume, yet London hailed her as the epitome of grace and elegance for her tasteful dance interpretations. She gained almost instantaneous success and the “Salomania” craze soon followed." – Curator Katelyn Roughley
> "Various treasures from the Salomania craze are on display in the physical exhibition and will be featured in the forthcoming digital exhibit. Everything from coffee tins to cigarettes were branded with the Salomé name along with various imitations and knockoffs such as a cigarette silk that neglected to use an authentic signature or image of Maud. Everyone wanted to capitalize on her success, so it didn’t seem to matter if it was really Maud or not; these Salomé mementos were essentially manufactured overnight and started springing up all over London and abroad." – Curator Katelyn Roughley
> "When Maud’s fame began to wane in the UK, she travelled all over the world, so we wanted to show not only where she achieved her greatest success but also how the Salomania craze spilled beyond the streets of London. Accordingly, we displayed collector’s items like the Maud Allan bisque figurine with everyday merchandise, like the Salomé cigarettes and Salomé corn plasters that were manufactured in the United States, to help illustrate the range in ephemera as well as Maud Allan’s international stardom." – Curator Katelyn Roughley

In 1996, Canada’s dance archive and museum, Dance Collection Danse, received a gem of a donation. The famous (and risqué for the time) Salomé costume worn by one of modern dances founding figures, Maud Allan, was donated, along with other accompanying artifacts, by Felix Cherniavsky, whose father and two uncles toured with Maud as the Cherniavsky Trio. Allan, a native of Toronto, first wore the costume in 1906 and by 1908 was taking London, England, by storm, giving over 250 performances. The costume spawned a Salomania craze that led to dance imitators and a variety of unique merchandise.

Between February 2012 and February 2014, the iconic costume underwent treatment to conserve it to its current sparkling state where it is now the focal point of the exhibit Maud Allan: An Edwardian Sensation. Katelyn Roughley curated the collection of Salomé artifacts and shares some of the experience of bringing this influential character and her defining costume back to life.

Maud Allan: An Edwardian Sensation is on display at Dance Collection Danse in Toronto until April 14, 2017.