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- ...it is the most wonderful conglomeration of every step that was ever thought of, and reminds the spectator more of one of the "dancing dervishes," or fabled willis, than anything else he can think of.... ... if the Willis should get him into their tempting snare, certainly he will not be outdanced in a hurry.
Era. June 14, 1848
- [The dances] approximated, in some respects, to those wild dances that may be witnessed sometimes in the remoter parts of the Highlands, including the sword dance, as there known; besides having the same idea of clanking the heels, as pervades the Polka.
Manchester Courier & Lancashire General Advertiser. Oct 18, 1848
- It is a combination of almost every quality in art--from the graceful movement of the 'minuet' to the highest pitch of terpsichorean illustration--and something more.
Birmingham Journal. December 16, 1848
- In his pas, cuts, shuffles, double shuffles, pirouettes, in every motion of his limbs or body, he keeps the most exact time...
Manchester Examiner. October 21, 1848
- To say that he dances as man or nigger never danced before; that he shakes his leg with the spirit of ten Jim Crow's, and postures as never did Keller or Madam Warton dream of, is nothing.
The Manchester Examiner, October 17, 1848
- But the Nigger Dance is a reality. The “Virginny Breakdown,” or the “Alabama Kick-up,” the “Tennessee Double-shuffle,” or the “Louisiana Toe-and-Heel,” we know to exist. If they did not, how could Juba enter into their wonderful complications so naturally? How could he tie his legs into such knots, and fling them about so recklessly, or make his feet twinkle until you lose sight of them altogether in his energy.
The Illustrated London News. August 4, 1848
- ...We fancied we had witnessed every kind of dance, from the wilds of Caffraria [sic] to the stage of the Academie at Paris; but all these choreographic manifestations were but poor shufflings compared to the pedal inspirations of Juba. ...Juba is to Vauxhall what the Lind is to the Opera House.
The Mirror and United Kingdom Magazine. July 1848
- He would be the Maro and the Lablanche of a negro opera-house in Timbuctoo. But his dancing casts into the shade all previous choreographic efforts. St Vitus was a mere figurant compared to Juba. ...Neither the great nor little Vestris, nor St Leon, nor Perrot may be compared with Juba.
Stirling Journal and Advertiser. August 31, 1849
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