Dutch dance orchestra, formed in 1926 by Theo Uden Masman.
It was very popular in the Netherlands with a repertory of jazz and popular tunes, and recorded backing Coleman Hawkins in 1935 and 1937, Benny Carter in 1937 and Freddy Johnson in 1937-1938. In 1942 German law forced the group to change its name to Theo Uden Masman and his Dance Orchestra.
The group continued to be led by Masman until 1964, when it changed its name to VARA Dance Orchestra (VARA after Verenigde Arbeiders Radio, on which it played) and its repertory to one of entirely popular music. In the mid-1980s it was led by Marcel Thielemans.
