Dancer. He received recognition during the first half of the 20th century as an award-winning American modern dancer, teacher, and choreographer. After marrying Ruth St. Denis in 1914, his professional dance career began. The couple co-founded the Denishawn School and Company, supporting non-balletic dance movements. For the first time, their tours brought modern dance to many parts of the United States. After the couple separated in 1931, the company disbanded. At this point, he established a dance company with male dancers, working with choreographing dance pieces to enhance the vigorous masculine style. In May of 1933, the all-male dancers did their first performance in Boston. That summer, he founded the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, Massachusetts, which is America's oldest dance festival. A career in dance was not his first choice as he studied to be a minister. After suffering from diphtheria at the age of nineteen, he was temporarily paralyzed. At the advice of his doctor, he began a physical therapy of dance and his health returned. Before he married, he performed as a ballerina with the Metropolitan Opera. In 1912 he conceived, choreographed, and appeared in the first dance films, He was the first American dancer to be awarded an honorary degree by an American college, the first male dancer to be listed in Who's Who in America. He was honored with the Capezio Award in 1957, the Dance Magazine Award in 1970, and he was knighted by the King of Denmark for his efforts on behalf of the Royal Danish Ballet. Posthumously, He was named as one of America's Irreplaceable Dance Treasures by the Dance Heritage Coalition in 2000. Even with his declining health, he remained active in dance until his death.
Dancer. He received recognition during the first half of the 20th century as an award-winning American modern dancer, teacher, and choreographer. After marrying Ruth St. Denis in 1914, his professional dance career began. The couple co-founded the Denishawn School and Company, supporting non-balletic dance movements. For the first time, their tours brought modern dance to many parts of the United States. After the couple separated in 1931, the company disbanded. At this point, he established a dance company with male dancers, working with choreographing dance pieces to enhance the vigorous masculine style. In May of 1933, the all-male dancers did their first performance in Boston. That summer, he founded the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, Massachusetts, which is America's oldest dance festival. A career in dance was not his first choice as he studied to be a minister. After suffering from diphtheria at the age of nineteen, he was temporarily paralyzed. At the advice of his doctor, he began a physical therapy of dance and his health returned. Before he married, he performed as a ballerina with the Metropolitan Opera. In 1912 he conceived, choreographed, and appeared in the first dance films, He was the first American dancer to be awarded an honorary degree by an American college, the first male dancer to be listed in Who's Who in America. He was honored with the Capezio Award in 1957, the Dance Magazine Award in 1970, and he was knighted by the King of Denmark for his efforts on behalf of the Royal Danish Ballet. Posthumously, He was named as one of America's Irreplaceable Dance Treasures by the Dance Heritage Coalition in 2000. Even with his declining health, he remained active in dance until his death.
Bio by: Linda Davis
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