starting in 1905, mata hari entered the scene. on the invitation of emile guimet she danced before a carefully chosen audience. the scene at the end of the show, where she was naked was a sensation. similar performances, at the requests of baron von rothschild, cécile sorel, gaston menier and natalie clifford barney followed. mata hari had never learned how to dance, and had never studied indian and oriental dancing. her dances were a product of her imagination. in 1917, mata hari was charged with espionage and sentenced to death. she was shot, on 15 october 1917, in vincennes, near paris.