Isadora Duncan is considered by many to be the creator of modern dance. Attempting to restore the art of dance to its original sacred roots, she danced with simple costumes, bare feet and loose, flowing hair. Her choreography centered around free and natural movements that included skipping, running, jumping, leaping and tossing.
Early Life of Isadora Duncan:
Duncan was born on May 27, 1877 in San Francisco, California.
Her parents were Joseph Charles Duncan and Mary Isadora Gray. She had two older brothers and an older sister. Her father lost his job soon after her birth, so her family was extremely poor. When she was only six years old, she and her sister taught dance classes to young children in order to earn extra money.
Duncan became part of a dance theater company in New York for a short time. She then moved to London and then on to Paris. She had established a reputation for herself within two years.
Dancing Career of Isadora Duncan:
In 1909 Duncan rented two large apartments. She lived on the lower floor and used the first floor to run a dance school. As she was greatly inspired by theatre and reading, Duncan tended to reject traditional ballet steps. She didn't care for the look of strict posture and form. Instead, her dancing and teaching stressed improvisation, emotion and the human form.
Duncan soon became an inspiration for others. Several artists created sculptures and jewelry of her, authors wrote novels about her, and artists created prints and paintings of her.
In 1913, her image was carved into the entrance of the newly built Theatre des Champs-Elysees. It was also painted in murals of the nine muses by Maurice Denis in the auditorium.
In 1916 Duncan performed at Rio de Janeiro's Theatro Municipal and at Sao Paulo's Teatro Municipal. She moved to Moscow in 1922, but the Russian government refused to fully support her work. She decided to move back to the West in 1924. Duncan opened three dance schools to spread her dance philosophy. In Germany, a group of her students became known as the Isadorables and performed both with Duncan and by themselves. The other schools were located just outside Paris and in Moscow.
Personal Life of Isadora Duncan:
Duncan was against marriage in general, although she did marry eventually. She gave birth to two children out of wedlock, and later a third baby who died shortly after birth. Her first two children died tragically in a drowning incident with their nanny when their car rolled into a river. It is also believed that Duncan was bisexual. She reportedly had a love affair with female poet Mercedes de Acosta.
Legacy of Isadora Duncan:
Known as the "mother of modern dance," Duncan invented the "New System" of interpretive dance. She blended poetry, music and the rhythms of nature together, tossing away the formality of conventional ballet. She believed in a freer form of dance. She preferred to dance barefoot and and wear simple clothing instead of formal costumes.
Duncan's dance schools did not survive for long, but she had a tremendous impact on the world of modern dance. Her style and choreography is still passed on to modern dancers. Duncan was inducted into the National Museum of Dance and Hall of Fame in 1987.
Duncan died tragically in 1927 in an automobile accident in Nice, France. She was traveling in an Amilcar and her silk scarf that was draped around her neck became entangled around the open-spoked wheels and rear axle. It broke her neck and caused her death.
