Lecture 2

Question 1

how did ruth st. denis approach dance

Answer 1

as a medium of religious expression

Question 2

what was ruth st. denis inspired by

Answer 2

dances of many different cultures (egypt, india, china, japan, spain, etc.)
- she was inspired by the specific dances within these cultures

Question 3

were the dance from specific cultures that inspired ruth st. denis authentic

Answer 3

no, as she never studied them by visiting the countries, and didn’t care whether they were authentic

Question 4

description of ruth st. denis dances

Answer 4

spiritual themes with theatrical presentations

• charismatic
• mystic aura
• sensual

Question 5

ruth st. denis knew she should be successful if she gave the audiences what

Answer 5

bright and colourful dance

- with spirituality but through a medium they could relate to

Question 6

what is ruth st. denis referred to as

Answer 6

mother of modern dance

Question 7

how did ruth st. denis study the dances of other cultures

Answer 7

from books and pictures

Question 8

t or f: ruth st. denis was loved by her audiences

Answer 8

true

Question 9

what did ruth st. denis use dance as medium to express

Answer 9

religious beliefs

- she saw dance as a language for communicating spiritual, divine messages to her audience

Question 10

what did ruth st. denis believe in in terms of the body

Answer 10

the divinity of the body, the body as well as the spirit was divine
- you communicated spiritual truths with this body

Question 11

Rada

Answer 11

one of the types of religious dances ruth st. denis performed
- very sensual, colourful, and theatrical

Question 12

company ruth st. denis formed

Answer 12

the denishawn company

Question 13

school ruth st. denis formed

Answer 13

denishawn school with partner ted shawn

Question 14

denishawn company

Answer 14

highly successful productions

• toured widely in america and europe (sometimes an entire year)
• lavish
• huge (men and women)

Question 15

what was the denishawn school the first american dance school respectable enough for what

Answer 15

children of upper and middle class families 
- ballet not seen as respectable prior t o

Question 16

what did the students at the denishawn dance school study

Answer 16

all kinds of dance styles: gymnastics, oriental dance, egyptian dance, ballet, barefoot aesthetic dance, creative dance

Question 17

t or f: students at the denishawn dance school studied denis’ style of dance

Answer 17

false, hers was all of the dances from many different cultures

Question 18

where was the denishawn dance school

Answer 18

outside in LA

part of naturalistic movement

Question 19

impact of the denishawn dance school

Answer 19

nurtured the next generation of modern dance pioneers in north america (Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Charles Wiedman)

Question 20

ruth st. denis costumes and sets

Answer 20

elaborate, colourful, extravagant

Question 21

what was ruth st. denis use of theatricality influenced by

Answer 21

vaudeville

Question 22

vaudeville

Answer 22

mis of dances from different cultures

Question 23

public response to ruth st. denis

Answer 23

highly successful both with audiences and critics

Question 24

where did ruth st. denis tour

Answer 24

america, france, germany, england, austia, hungray

Question 25

3 contributions of ruth st. denis

Answer 25

1. founded a school + company that nurtured the next generation of modern dancers
2. developed a wide audience for modern dance in the US
3. made the study of dance a respectable activity for all classes

Question 26

founded a school + company that nurtured the next generation of modern dancers contribution of denis

Answer 26

• became the vehicle for continuing this new form of modern dance

Question 27

developed a wide audience for modern dance in the US contribution of denis

Answer 27

incorporated traditions and practices of the popular vaudeville into the world of serious concert dance

Question 28

who started the first all male dance company

Answer 28

ted shawn: ted shawn and his men dancers

Question 29

dancers at ted shawn’s company

Answer 29

very physical, strong, muscular

Question 30

where did shawn get his dancers from

Answer 30

physical education faculties in universities in the US

Question 31

where was shawn’s company staged

Answer 31

a farm house in Massachusetts: jacob’s pillow

Question 32

what was shawn’s company responsible for

Answer 32

establishing a legitimate place for the male dancer as more than a porter of the ballerina

Question 33

what did shawn give audiences that had not yet been seen before

Answer 33

a strong male physical presence onstage

Question 34

how did shawn help male dancers

Answer 34

created a legitimate place for them onstage in modern dance

- revived the publics interest

Question 35

where did shawn’s company tour

Answer 35

small towns

Question 36

who taught at jacobs pillow

Answer 36

joe pilates

Question 37

how were classes at shawn’s company taught

Answer 37

outdoors

Question 38

what event occurs at jacobs pillow still today

Answer 38

the jacobs pillow dance festival and summer school

Question 39

who was shawn married to

Answer 39

denis

though they separated when their school closed

Question 40

what did both duncan and denis do

Answer 40

made contributions to the new art form of modern dance, though in very different ways