Ted Shawn

Ted Shawn with dancer and wife Ruth St. Denis in 1916.

Ted Shawn (21 October 1891 — 9 January, 1972), originally Edwin Myers Shawn, was one of the first notable male pioneers of American modern dance. Along with creating Denishawn with former wife Ruth St. Denis he is also responsible for the creation of the well known all-male company Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers. With his innovative ideas of masculine movement he is one of the most influential choreographers and dancers of his day. He is also the founder and creator of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Massachusetts.

Ted Shawn and the creation of Denishawn

Ted Shawn was born in Kansas City MO, USA on 21 October 1891 at 10:39 ^[1] . and in 1912 graduated from the University of Denver where he had original intentions of becoming a minister. It was there that Shawn’s battles with diphtheria lead him into the world of dance as an outlet to regain muscle strength. It wasn’t until marrying wife Ruth St. Denis in 1914 that Shawn realized his true potential as an artist.^[2] St. Denis served not only as partner but an extremely valuable creative outlet to Shawn. Soon after the marriage the couple opened the first Denishawn School in Los Angeles, California where the two were able to choreograph and stage many of their famous vaudeville pieces. ^[3] The following year Shawn launched a cross-country tour with his dance partner, Norma Gould, and their Interpretive Dancers. Julnar of the Sea, Xochitl, and Les Mysteres Dionysiaques are just a few notable performances choreographed by Shawn during Denishawn’s seventeen year run.^[4] Throughout the duration of his school and company he produced some of the most influential dancers for the next generations, including Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman.^[5]

Technique and Style

Together, Shawn and Ruth St. Denis established the principle of Music Visualization in modern dance —- a concept that called for movement equivalents to the timbres, dynamics, and structural shapes of music in addition to its rhythmic base. In 1916 and 1917 Shawn choreographed the first of these, Inventions and Fugues to Bach, as classroom exercises. Soon after, St. Denis presented works using music visualization techniques to the public.^[6]

Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers

Although Denishawn came to an end in 1929 due to tough circumstances both in Shawn’s and St. Denis’ marriage as well as the economy, Shawn’s second dance group Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers were soon to follow in his dancing career.^[7] The new all male company was based out of Massachusetts near his then home of Lee. In creating this company Shawn was hoping to make America become more aware, and accept the importance and dedication of the male dancer along with his role in the arts. It was with this new company that Shawn produced some of his most controversial and highly skilled choreography to date. With works such as Ponca Indian Dance, Sinhalse Devil Dance, Maori War Haka, Hopi Indian Eagle Dance, and Dyak Spear Dances he was able to showcase performances that all stressed the male body movement.^[8] His love for the relationships created by the men in his dances soon translated into love between him and one of his company members Barton Mumaw which lasted from 1931- 1948. He also had another partner following Mumaw, John Christian whom he was with from 1949 until his death in 1972.^[9]

Creation of Jacob’s Pillow

With this new company came the creation of Jacob's Pillow, a dance school, retreat, and theater. Shawn and his men used this space as a place to hold teas as well as a place to perform. These teas soon transformed into the festival that is so widely known to this day, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.^[10]. Shawn also used this new space to develop his choreography and teach. Jacob’s Pillow has since become one of the largest and most respected dance festivals, with performances and guests from some of the most prominent companies in the world. Having a place where anybody could come and show their work without restrictions or biasness is something that Shawn fought for and gladly wanted to share with others. The creation of Jacob’s Pillow has allowed this to happen .^[11] Along with Jacob's Pillow came the opening of The School of Dance for Men which is when he met his accomplishment of having male dancing making its way into colleges nationwide. Being able to have his work and stylized male choreography be respected so much to where it was then introduced to universities was a huge step for Shawn. Shawn made his last appearance on stage in the Ted Shawn Theater at Jacob’s Pillow in his performance of Siddhas of the Upper Air where he reunited with St. Denis. Shawn and St. Denis danced on their 50th anniversary at the Casino in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Ted Shawn resting upon the Jacob’s Pillow Rock

Saratoga Springs is now the home of the National Museum of Dance, the world's only museum dedicated to professional dance. Shawn was still teaching classes at Jacob’s Pillow just months before his death at the age of 80.^[12]

The following quote is attributed to Ted Shawn: "I believe that dance communicates man’s deepest, highest and most truly spiritual thoughts and emotions far better than words, spoken or written."

See also

• Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival

References

Resources

• "Biographical Note", in Inventory of the Ted Shawn Papers, 1913-1982, Jerome Robbins Dance Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center. On line.
• Walter Terry, Ted Shawn: The Father of Modern Dance, New York, Dial Press (1976) ISBN 0803785577
• "Ted Shawn", IMDb
• Katherine S. Dreier and Ralph Hawkins, Shawn the Dancer, Berlin, Drei Masken Verlag (1933)

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