Ruth St. Denis

" It is not a question of who dances but of who or what does not dance" - Ruth St. Denis

Ruth St. Denis was a dancer from New Jersey. Born in Jan 20, 1877. In 1898 the young dancer was noticed by David Belasco a very well known broad way producer and director. He hired her to perform with his company and tour around the United States and Europe. She was given the the stage name "St. Denis".

St. Denis' imagination and artistic side was wonderful. In 1904 she saw a poster of the goddess Isis in an ad for Egyptian Deities cigarettes. The image triggered her imagination and created a solo dance called "Radha" Telling a story of a mortal maid who was loved by the god Krishna. In 1905 St. Denis' career as a solo artist took off. After years of traveling St. Denis returned back to the US in 1909 and married Ted shawn in 1914. Next they founded the Denishawn dance school and company in Los Angeles. In 1940 St. Denis resumed her performing in 1940 with her appearance at the Jacob's Pillow dance festival which was founded in 1933 by Ted Shawn. Later in Ruth's life she formed a church, St. Denis Religious Art Church. Her mission was the realization of the Divine through the Arts.

St. Denis was active up until the 1960's. She was often called the " First Lady of American Dance" and the "Queen of American Dance". St. Denis has been compare to the contemporary Isadora Duncan, these two artists were very different. St. Denis was inspired by cultures, religion of Egypt, India, and East Asia. Ruth St. Denis passed on July 21, 1968.