Clotilde Von Derp

Personal

Vocation

German expressionist dancer, an early exponent of modern dance, whose career was spent essentially dancing together with her Russian husband Alexander Sakharoff with whom she enjoyed a long-lasting relationship. From 1913, Clotilde appeared with Sacharoff with whom she moved to Switzerland during the First World War. Both Sacharoff and Clotilde were known for their transvestite costumes. Clotilde's femininity was said to be accentuated by the male attire. Her costumes took on an ancient Greek look which she used in Danseuse de Delphes in 1916. Her style was said to be elegant and more modern than that achieved by Isadora Duncan. Their outrageous costumes included wigs made from silver and gold coloured metal, with hats and outfits decorated with flowers and wax fruit. They married in 1919 and, with the financial support of Edith Rockefeller, appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in New York but without any great success. They lived in Paris until the Second World War, using the name "Les Sakharoff." They toured widely visiting China and Japan which was so successful that they returned again in 1934. They and their extravagant costumes visited both North and South America. They found themselves in Spain when France was invaded by Germany. They returned to South America making a new base in Buenos Aires until 1949. They toured Italy the following year and both continued to live in Rome until their deaths. She died on 11 January 1974, aged 81. Link to Wikipedia biography