Ruth St. Denis

I just learned about Ruth St. Denis, another pioneer in Modern Dance. She had (like Isadora Duncan) a rather miscellaneous dance training as a young dancer. She then went into Broadway where she changed her name from Ruth Denis to Ruth St. Denis. After she saw a cigarette poster with an Egyptian Goddess named Isis, she developed an obsession with creating a dance that portrayed this particular goddess. This obsession evolved over time and after creating the Denishawn company with Ted Shawn, and then it dissolving, she focused on religious dances. The biggest accomplishment people link her to is the Denishawn school and how she helped Ted Shawn create Jacob's Pillow.

Reflection
I thought it was interesting to notice the similarities between Isadora Duncan and Ruth St. Denis. I understand that she was known as a modern dancer, but I wonder if people question that because she did so much religious, oriental, and mystical dance. Next I will research Humphrey and Weidman. At some point I also want to look into what non-dancers and dance-enthusiasts think what modern dance is.

Ted Shawn

I briefly researched Ted Shawn, although I already knew a lot about him because of my research on Jacob's Pillow. He started to dance because he was temporarily paralyzed from a bout of diphtheria and his doctor recommended it as physical therapy. I thought this was really interesting. He and Ruth St. Denis created the Denishawn company after they were married, but they separated around fifteen years later and the company dissolved. Ted later danced with his "Men" and they became internationally acclaimed. He worked with Jacob's Pillow for the rest of his life until his death in 1972.

Reflection

I wonder if they had any children, and if they did, did they ever help out at Jacob's Pillow? Next, I will research Ruth St. Denis.

Jacob's Pillow

Jacob's Pillow has a history somewhat like The Bennington School of Dance/The American Dance Festival. It was/is driven by the desire to explore and show the public the wonderful world of Modern Dance. It was started by Ted Shawn in 1930 and since then has evolved from his (and his then-wife Ruth St. Denis) retreat house and private performance space into a center that includes a festival, school, community programs, and an archival systems.

Reflection
I now realize how similar this is to The Bennington School of Dance/ADF. They literally shared a director, Charles Reinhart, for a moderate sized period starting in 1974. I feel very appreciative that this place exists, I will visit it next summer. By researching this, I've learned a little about how dancers/choreographers meet and connect with another. They can meet at places like Jacob's pillow and see each other's works. Next, I will research Ted Shawn and Ruth St. Denis, for they surfaced in my research and I would like to know more.

The Bennington School of Dance/The American Dance Festival

I decided to research the Bennington School of Dance because it came up in the history of several of the people I have researched so far. It was created in Bennington Vermont in 1934 but was such a success that it spread to Connecticut College and Duke University.

Reflection
How is this program funded? Do they have advertising or does the word get out simply by word of mouth? I am thinking of how wonderful this has been, especially for dancers in the early thirties where there wasn't much support for modern dance. Next, I will research Jacobs Pillow.

Martha Graham

I just finished researching Martha Graham, another great Modern Dancer like Alvin Ailey. Like Mary Wigman, she didn't discover her calling for Modern Dance until her twenties. She wanted to dance with the Denishawn Company, but her bold brunette features and somewhat plump figure didn't fit in with the other Denishawn dancers. So, she separated from the company and started creating and dancing in her own works. I didn't know that she ended up marrying Erick Hawkins. I will research him next. I think it's interesting that Louis Horst was also her lover and her friend who urged her to leave the Denishawn School. I wonder if she ever used personal connections to work in her favor in other ways.

Here is an interesting clip that I found:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr8OqS7glxk

Alvin Ailey

I just finished researching Alvin Ailey and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Although I already knew a lot about him and his company, I learned a lot of new information. For example, they have about 37 current pieces in their repertory. In order to fully understand this company, I also researched their current Artistic Director, Judith Jamison, who was personally asked by Alvin to take over the company following his death.
After researching Alvin Ailey and his company, I have realized a trend in Modern Dance choreographers/dancers... they follow their dreams and feelings. For example, Hanya Holm didn't like how structured and strict ballet was, so she made up her own style instead of doing it anyway or giving dance up for good. Alvin Ailey is another example of this because even though he grew up during the Civil Rights Movement and African American successful dancers and choreographers were practically non-existent in America, he never gave up and finally established a solid Modern Dance Company that is known throughout the world.

Here is a really interesting video clip that I found:
http://video.thirteen.org/episode/show/682