Miss Clara

Miss Clara was a dancer and performer

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

She was a member of J.H. le Roy's a new company for their "Fifth Cape Town Season" in the Theatre Royal (September 1867- August 1868). Probably as supporting actress in the various plays (she is specifically mentioned as appearing as "Columbine" in the pantomime Harlequin Prince Perseus, or The Maid and the Monster, played 26-30 December, 1868), but most frequently mentioned as a solo dancer.

She made her first appearance on the opening night (25 September) with a Pas de Variation, followed by a series of solo appearances over the course of the season, dancing virtually every evening. The dances were often simply billed as "A Dance", but on occasion also referred to more creatively as "A Fancy Dance" (3 and 7 October for example), a "Grand Pas Seul" (21 and 24 October, 2 and 11 November), a "Pas Seul" (28 October, 25 and 28 November, 2 December, 16 December), "Grand Scarf, Pas Seul" (4 November), "Pas de Fleurs" (18 and 21 November). This continued in 1868 till the burning down of the Theatre Royal in 16 January, when the company moved to the Commercial Exchange as venue.

She is not mentioned again.

Sources

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1916. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp. 230-236, 294.

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