Thread: Footage of bellydance competition in 1968, London!!

Wow now this is interesting!!

MS competitors dressed for the part arrive at Tamarisk and Shores restaurant in the Old Brompton road. VS the competitors arrive in the club and receive a drink and something to eat from buffet before the competition starts. VS belly dancers take the floor of the club and give a performance. VS people seated around in restaurant (more like a club) watching the belly dancing, some of these people are the judges. VS The competitors parade at finish and Margy Sperinck is the winner and receives cheque. She does another solo performance.

BRITISH BELLY DANCING COMPETITION - British Pathe

I love this, especially the eating in costume OMG NOES part. But mostly, because these newsreels are revealing that there was BD and quite a bit of it, clearly, in London in the 60s.

Thanks for posting this. -really fun to see old news reels.
Does anyone know who these ladies were?

Great find! Love the costumes. Eating in costume? OMG!
Using all my self control to *not* make a Randall style voiceover

One nippletastic bra was quite impressively engineered!

It will be interesting to look back at ourselves a few decades from now...*cringe*

It's too bad there's no sound with those Pathe videos. I'd love to hear what music they dance to.

Originally Posted by Hala Jamal

It's too bad there's no sound with those Pathe videos. I'd love to hear what music they dance to.

I too would love some sound. I bet they regretted that buffet as they were dancing.

Anybody know if there's sound if you "buy" the clip? Just curious!

I really enjoyed watching this! If it was taken in 1968 shouldn't most of these ladies still be around? Wouldn't it be good if they are on Bhuz and could tell us more?

Originally Posted by audie

Thanks for posting this. -really fun to see old news reels.
Does anyone know who these ladies were?

That's the one I mentioned.

I'm wondering what happened to the winner Margy Sperinck...and whether she's still dancing. Has anyone ever heard of her?

Loved the woman eating the drumstick.

I wonder why they cut the sound? When I saw that clip 2 years ago it still had sounds, mostly it was a voice over. The Text to the right I think with the "VS" marking where the scene changed and the next voice over starts. I can't remember the background music.

I am positive some of these women would be still be around.. my mum is and we lived in the first house in Cranley Place just off the Old Brompton Road in 1968! lol

I will ask my mum and see if she remembers this place.

Yes, belly dancing was clearly here in the 60's so despite the UK thinking we are 25 years behind the states in BD development, we are actually not!

I think the only difference is the dancers of that time didnt seek to teach the general public? this was eventaully done by Gail Smedley who was from the USA (Wendy B's first teacher) and Tina Hobin who I dont actually know much about.

I am sure we will find some more fascinating clips in the Pathe reels.. they really are fabulous.