Oral Histories

Interview of Ruth St. Denis

Dancer and co-founder of the Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts.
Subtitle:
Reflections on a Life in the Dance
Series:
Z: Orphan Interviews pre 1999
Topic:
Dance
Biographical Note:
Dancer and co-founder of the Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts.
Interviewer:
Dixon, Elizabeth I.
Interviewee:
St. Denis, Ruth
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Interviewee Retained Copyright
Abstract:
Childhood on New Jersey farm; first reading of Mary Baker Eddy's Science and Health, 1899; artists and money; Ted Shawn and Shawn Dancers at Jacob's Pillow, Massachusetts; meeting Stanford White at Metropolitan Opera House, 1897 or 1898; David Belasco; Isadora Duncan's spontaneous use of universal rhythms; Pearl Wheeler's costumes for Denishawn; trip to Orient, 1926-27; "Radha" and Indian influences on dance; dancer's response to nature; theory of "balanced" government; Gandhi and nonviolence; Shawn's contribution to dance photograph collection at New York Public Library; need for fashion and manners; Denishawn School of the Dance, Los Angeles; Walter Terry; Denishawn magazine; writing poetry; Christian Science faith; Mary Baker Eddy; relationship of metaphysics to dance.