Terpsichore: Mata Hari as an Exotic Dancer

Anna Tsygankova as Mata Hari

Photo Marc Haegeman
Copyright 2016 Dutch National Ballet, all rights reserved
Reproduction licensed by kind permission of the company

After her marriage ended, Margaretha MacLeod moved to Paris where she performed in various music halls including the Moulin Rouge shown below

Moulin Rouge

Photo Marc Haegeman

Reproduction licensed with the kind consent of the company

I can't recognize all the dancers but I think one is the talented Floor Eimers who is one of my favourites. I also seem to remember that Michaela DaPrince danced in that episode too but I don't think she is in this picture.

In Paris MacLeod found her niche as an exotic dancer under the stage name Mata Hari (Dawn or Sunrise). The photo at the top of this column shows Anna Tsygankova dancing that role. Although she enjoyed some success she was eventually overshadowed by other dancers including Isadora Duncan who was two years her junior.

MacLeod's career as a dancer ended abruptly with the first world war. As a citizen of a neutral country she was able to travel between the belligerents which made her useful to the intelligence services of both sides. The photo below shows her with her German controller, Major Roepell, danced by Jozef Varga.