Ruth St. Denis American dancer and choreographer Date of Birth: 20.01.1879 Country: USA

1. Biography of Ruth St. Denis
2. Pioneering Modern Dance
3. Contributions to Dance Education
4. Legacy and Famous Students

Biography of Ruth St. Denis

Ruth St. Denis, born on January 20, 1879, in Newark, New York, was an American dancer and choreographer. She began her professional dance career in 1894 as part of an vaudeville dance ensemble. Over time, she worked in a touring group, traveling across the country, where she performed small roles in David Belasco's plays Zaza and Du Barry. It was during this time that she acquired the nickname given to her by Belasco. She added "Saint" to her last name, dropping the letter "n," resulting in the more melodious Ruth St. Denis.

Pioneering Modern Dance

As a choreographer, Ruth made her mark in 1904 when she created dances filled with emotional freedom, lyricism, and a deep interest in the cultures of East Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Her first major choreographic work was the ballet "Radha," set to the music of Léo Delibes (1906), which incorporated Indian motifs. In 1914, she married Ted Shawn, and together they opened a dance school a year later. The school operated until their divorce in 1931 but played a significant role in the development of modern dance, which later became quite popular in the United States. Ruth became the first American dancer to elevate vaudeville techniques and established traditions into a serious and intriguing concert dance.

Contributions to Dance Education

In 1938, Ruth St. Denis developed her own dance program for Adelphi University, marking her first institutional work in an American university. The introduction of modern dance lessons became a cornerstone of the Performing Arts Department at Adelphi, despite initial resistance. The growing popularity of the style ultimately prevented any attempts to ban it. Ruth's early works reflected her interest in exotic mysticism and a heightened spiritual life. Her stunning beauty and love for performing in exotic, sometimes translucent costumes, with lavish sets and lighting effects, captivated audiences and held their attention until the very last moment of each dance.

Legacy and Famous Students

Many dance companies today include her choreographic works in their collections, showcasing her contributions to modern dance through her "Art of Dance" program. In 2006, several of St. Denis's works, including "Smoking" and "Legend of the Peacock," were presented at the Baltimore Museum of Art. In honor of her centenary, a salute was planned, and the premiere of St. Denis's "Radha" was specially revived at the request of Countess Anastasia Tamakis from Greece. Nicholas Mino, the program director, played a vital role in reviving Ruth St. Denis's choreography.

Among her most famous students is Martha Graham, who attended St. Denis's dance school, Denishawn, which she founded with her husband, Ted Shawn. Doris Humphrey, Charles Weidman, and future film star Louise Brooks also studied and worked at Denishawn. For many years, St. Denis taught dance in Hollywood studios. In 1963, she embarked on a collaboration with Raymond Dearth Bouman to create a full-length Baltic puppet show. The show took place in her studio and lasted for over 8 hours.