Home / Arts and Entertainment / Le Monocle: A Sapphic Haven in Jazz-Age Paris
Le Monocle: A Sapphic Haven in Jazz-Age Paris
12 Feb
Summary
- The 1920s Parisian club Le Monocle offered a rare sanctuary for lesbians.
- Marlene Dietrich visited the club; Edith Piaf's mother performed there.
- A recent dance show brought this hidden Sapphic history to life.
In 1920s Paris, Le Monocle, established by Lulu de Montparnasse, served as a discreet yet celebrated lesbian club. This establishment was a sanctuary, attracting notable figures like Marlene Dietrich and featuring performances by Edith Piaf's mother.
The club's atmosphere was one of rare freedom for lesbians to live and love. Rendez-Vous Dance's new production, "Rendez-Vous Dance's latest show, telling this secret Sapphic story", aims to bring this clandestine Sapphic narrative to the stage.
Choreographer Mathieu Geffré uses James Keane's atmospheric score and jazz singer Imogen Banks's presence to recreate the club's essence. The dance explores themes of fluid identity, mimicking masculinity, and celebrating female partnering.
However, the show's impact is occasionally hampered by underdeveloped characters and fluctuating momentum. Despite these shortcomings, the production's originality and the uncovering of this lesser-known history of community and celebration make it a noteworthy revival.
