Seeing New York by Yacht (1903)

This film is part of the Mitchell and Kenyon collection - an amazing visual record of everyday life in Britain at the beginning of the twentieth century.

A short film featuring several dancers from different countries: first an Arabian dancer, then an Algerian belly dancer, and finally Scottish highlanders in kilts performing a jig. Section one is rendered in hand-color.

Leeds Athletic and Cycling Club Carnival

This vibrant film was shown as part of the Lancashire town's celebrations of Edward VII's coronation. People wave, cheer and laugh at the camera as a tram worker playfully tries to clear them out of the way by spraying them with water. As the camera pans to follow the tram disappearing down the hill, it passes over women in shawls, men smoking, and a little girl in a bonnet being held aloft.

A magician along with three doppelgangers perform an elaborate balancing act.

The boys dance to Grandpa's banjo playing, then indicate that he can't equal their skill. Grandpa gets up and performs an intricate step while still playing the banjo.

A woman shows off her trained dogs.

This is another short, simple dance number. It’s quite stunning and unusual though with a bat turning into a woman who proceeds to give us a skirt dance before disappearing into thin air. The dance is mesmerising with the skirt stunningly changing colour throughout the film.