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Ted Shawn, 1891-1972
Born Kansas City, Missouri
The Denishawn School combined Ruth St. Denis's interest in Eastern mysticism and Ted Shawn's belief in the Delsartian theory of body movement, which incorporated movements of the body to express emotional concepts. Shawn was particularly fascinated with American themes, which he introduced in such works as the Aztec dance-drama Xochitl, the Hopi ballet The Feather of the Dawn, and the celebratory O, Libertad!
When Denishawn dissolved in 1929, Shawn organized "Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers" to emphasize the importance of the male dancer. He founded Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in 1933, and in 1942 built the first theater in the United States to be used expressly for dance. As the resident impresario at Jacob's Pillow, he pioneered the presentation of such important American dancers as Alvin Ailey, Arthur Mitchell, Carmen de Lavallade, and Geoffrey Holder.
Called "the father of American dance," Shawn gave all dancers classic advice: "When in doubt, twirl."
Edwin F. Townsend, c 1925 |