Dance History - Denishawn

Ruth St. Denis

She saw an Egyptian cigarette poster of goddess Isis

Fuller (colorful theatricality w/ stage lights and veils for costumes)

Duncan (spiritual quality and emotional force)

• The Incense
• The Cobras
• The Nautch Dance
• The Yogi and O-Mika (based on Japanese drama)

St.Denis married her student Ted Shawn

They formed Denishawn School of Dance in LA

Ted Shawn

— “Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers” the first all-male dance company in the US

—Shawn demonstrates that men have an important place in modern dance

— Jacob’s Pillow

• 1. Great theatrical appeal
• 2. Brilliant use of color, light, scenery and exotic costuming
• 3. Inclusion of religious themes and mysticism
• 4. Movements based on dances of Eastern cultures (not authentically traditional)
• 5. Provided exotic styles of dance other than ballet

1. Obtained recognition for dancing as a worthy art for men (in the U.S. on concert stages and in colleges and universities)

2. Focused on the need to develop male dancers

• 3. Developed a respect for comprehensive technical training in dance
• Developed dances with American themes/characters

4. Created Jacob’s Pillow Dance School and Festival

—1. Brought recognition of the American dance as an independent art form—

2. Created new audience for dance among middle-class theater-goers

3. Provided a training ground for the great modern dancers of the 20th century