When Ted finally arrived in New York City, he was hoping to enter a new stage for his career. That change would come in the form of a woman. Ruth St. Dennis and Ted Shawn met in New York City and instantly fell in love. They were married on August 13th, 1914 and without knowing it, formed an extremely powerful dance alliance. They started a company and school under the name Denishawn, which became the largest dance academy of its time. Ted was the business head of the school as well as the main technique teacher. Ruth was more of the creative, free-spirited side of the Denishawn school. If modern dancers of today traced their dance lineage, it would most likely find its way to the Denishawn techniques. A few famous modern dancers who trained at the Denishawn school are Martha Grahm, Doris Humphery, and Charles Weidman.
After their, Ted continued to work in the dance world. He found an old run down farm in Becket, Massachusetts and transformed it into what is now the largest summer dance festival. He created Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. It was here that he formed his first modern dance company of all male dancers. He named it "Ted Shawn and his Men Dancers". With this company he made it acceptable for men to dance. Before, it was considered feminine if a man was good at dancing. He also broke the stereotype that men were to dance light and airy like ballet dancers. He made sure that the nearly 200 dances he choreographed throughout his career showcased the strength and virtuosity of his male dancers.
Ted Shawn died in 1972. He lived a very long and successful life and will forever go down in history as the original male modern dancer. Before his death he was knighted by the King of Denmark, and received two awards: the Capezio Award in 1957 and the Dance Magazine Award in 1970. If Ted Shawn were around today, I would shake his hand and thank him for breaking the mold and opening up the possibilities for every male dancer that followed him.
I find it so interesting that his disease was cured completely with dance rehabilitation and then he devoted his life completely to modern dance; it suits him perfectly that he is the marker for the beginning of the history of modern dance. Also, I understand that during his time, male dancers werent given as many opportunities as female dancers. So, I really appreciate that he becomes obsessed, almost, to giving male dancers equal or even more opportunites than he would female dancers, especially by excluding women to preform with his company.
ReplyDeleteThanks Melissa!
ReplyDeleteI really do find it such an inspiration to see that he completely recovered through dance thearapy. I personally have gone through a few medical problems (nothing as serious as paralysis) but Ted was living proof that a person can dance after a serious trauma.
Being a guy, I also find what Ted did for the male dance a huge accomplishment. Who knows if male dancers would be getting the opportunities the do today if it weren't for Ted Shawn. We may still be standing still waiting for the girl to finish her three turns and then swoop in to pick her up.
I am hoping to find some video's of Ted Shawn and his Men Dancers to post on here so that there are examples of the work he created.
Thanks for the comment!