Female dancer

This hollow bronze statuette of a female dancer has lost its head and arms. It dates from a time when the Greek kalathiskos dance was flourishing again, during the reign of the early Roman emperors. In Greek times the dance was associated with the goddess Artemis. Reliefs from Roman times are known, featuring female dancers wearing a thin, short tunic, doing dance-steps on the balls of their feet. Taking the clothing and dance posture into consideration, it is probable that this statuette from Cortona represents such a dancer. She is represented in the act of turning a pirouette.
By her movements, her thin clothes are pressed against her body. The contours of her upper legs, belly and breasts are clearly visible. The pleats of her tunic are elegantly fanning out backwards. On her feet she is wearing calf-high, opennosed lace-up boots. Narrow strips of fabric or leather are attached to the straps. These movable elements will have produced a special effect during the dance.
The statuette is reminiscent of the Romans’ household gods, the Lares. These were represented as dancing youths, carrying a ryton and a patera (offering dish) as their attributes. During the reign of emperor Augustus the Lares cult was stimulated. Yet, it is not possible that this bronze statuette portrays a Lar: Lares are represented as male youths.