Salome performed the “Dance of the Seven Veils” before Herod II, featured in modern stage performances, literature, and visual arts. It is an elaboration on the biblical story of the execution of John the Baptist, which mentions Salome dancing before the king, but doesn’t name the dance.
Rita Hayworth dances a strip dance in the 1953 film ‘Salome.’ When she sees John’s head being delivered on a platter, she stops the dance before removing her last veil since she did not want him to be killed in this version of the story. Salome was the last movie made by Rita Hayworth’s production company (The Beckworth Company). Later, she said that her dance “Dance of the Seven Veils” in this film was one of the most challenging of her career. Having seen the results, it was time well spent and effort that certainly paid off. While Rita may be celebrated as a great beauty and actress, she deserves recognition for her extraordinary dancing ability.
