GENEE AND THE RUSSIAN DANCERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1886, 21 October 1913, Page 5

GENEE AND THE RUSSIAN DANCERS.

The interest taken by Qacen Alexandra in Wile. Genoe, the workl-famed dancer, who will commence a short season in Wellington jt the Opera House next Saturday.' evening. was indicated by tho fact that Her Majesty expressed tiio best wishes for tho success of Mllo. Genee's Australasian tour. Tins expression of Her Majesty's goodwill was intimated by letter through the Danish Consul in London, Kammerberre de Grevcnkop Castenskiold, and was received during the season in Melbourne. Queen Alexandra has on many occasions shown her warm personal interest in Mile. Genee, and is a keen admirer of tho great/ dancer's art. Genee, was born in Denmark, began to danco when was eight years old, and at the tender ago 'of ten made her first public appearance in a character dance called the "French Polka." Sho was 17 when she made the first really big success. This was at the Berlin Grand Opera House, and was followed by another triumph at the Boyal Opera, Munich. From Germany Genee went to England, and then hack to ' Copenhagen, ,whero sho danced in "Coppelia" before the King and Court. Scarcely out of her 'teens, the great dancer went to England to fill a sixweeks' engagement, and stayed ten years, the idol of London. She became almost a British institution. They liked her not only for. her wonderful dancing, but for* her expressive pantomime. There was no thought but that she would always remain with them, until one day America claimed her, and thero were extraordinary scenes of enthusiasm' at her last performance in London. William Archer, tho great dramatic critic, declared that she should not bo allowed to leave England until sho hnd deposited a slipper in the British Museum.