Ruth St. Denis (St. Denis, Ruth) (c. 1880-1968), American dancer Bashny.Net

Ruth St. Denis (St. Denis, Ruth) (c. 1880-1968), American dancer and choreographer, founder of Dance "modern».

Ruth was born on January 20, 1879 in the US city of Newark (Newark), New Jersey. From an early age, Ruth began to study dance. The first dance lessons she received from her mother, fans of dance techniques theorist Francois Delsarte, who taught that every human experience corresponds to a certain gesture and movement can be transmitted by any human feelings. In 13 years, Ruth began his professional career as a dancer, participating in vaudeville.




In 1898, 19-year-old Ruth says theater director and producer David Belasco and 4 years Ruth plays in his theater "Zaza" and "Madame du Barry." Belasco gives Ruth nickname "holy» - Saint, Ruth takes it and throws one letter in his name, turning from Ruth Dennis in Ruth St. Denis.



At the beginning of his spiritual path Ruth St. Denis is interested in theosophy and philosophy of the American Transcendentalists. In 1903, Saint-Denis was at the pharmacy with another member of Belasco in Buffalo, New York, when she saw a poster of Egyptian cigarettes "deity." The poster was a picture of the Egyptian goddess Isis sits on a throne in the temple, it captivated Saint-Denis on the spot. Ruth felt an irresistible attraction to the culture of ancient Egypt. Later, Ruth deeply interested in India and Buddhism.



In the next year after his Egyptian experience she starts posing own ballet "Radha» (Radha) music L.Deliba (1906) based on Indian mythology (Radha - mortal girl, fell in love with Lord Krishna). From 1906 to 1909 Ruth St. Denis toured Europe in 1909 and returned to the United States.
Her dances are free, lyrical, inspired and reflect her interest in the cultures of Africa, the Middle East and East Asia. Ruth St. Denis puts putting on a variety of exotic themes.