AtD - Nautch girl

[Michael Bailey]

Hi!

On the group read of AtD when it came out, we reached this passage:

“At Newnham and Girton, one expected Wrangleresses on the legendary order
of Phillippa Fawcett, even romances with one’s tutors á la Grace Chisholm
and Will Young, which with luck might develop into some married
collaboration—but certainly not this nautch-girl extravagance of looks and
self-possession that Yashmeen presented.”


At the time I remember searching for “nautch girl” to no avail.

Either I wasn’t doing it right or there are significant additions to online
resources since then.

https://www.messynessychic.com/2021/12/17/the-nautch-girls-indias-forgotten-dancers/

“You arrive at the gardens after nightfall with the full moon casting a
cool, pale glow over the muggy evening. Two dozen torch bearers stand by to
light your way, and as you approach the crowd, you sense the anxious
anticipation of the delights to come. Soon the musicians strike up their
instruments, and a group of gazelle-eyed dancers draped in sky blue and
crimson seem to float into the midst of the party on delicate, nimble
steps. A torch bearer steps forward, holding the light first to a dancer’s
face and then lower down, throwing dazzling sparkles from the gold tinsel
embroidery of her robes and showing off her charms to best advantage. The
guests, Indian and British alike, stand entranced by the graceful twisting
of hands and expressive glances. The entertainments continue until the
sunrise peeks over the horizon, but even that blaze of pink and orange
light seems lacking after the enchantments of the nautch party. The “nautch
girls” of India were revered for their artistic talents until they were
reviled for their supposed licentiousness; before their name was reduced to
another euphemism for sex worker in the colonial Far East.”

(Etc)