Ted shawn death

Ted Shawn was an American dancer who challenged Western social stereotypes about male dancers.

Ted shawn dance company

He was entirely devoted to the art of dance as a form that could be integrated into everyday life. With his wife Ruth St. Edwin Myers Shawn was born in , and in his early years, with the ambition of becoming a minister, the boy went on to study religion at the University of Denver. However, after a few months, at the age of 19, Shawn caught diphtheria, which resulted in temporary paralysis from the waist down.

As part of his physical therapy, Shawn was introduced to the art of dance by Hazel Wallack, a former dancer with the Metropolitan Opera. Once back to full physical health, Shawn moved to Los Angeles in and became part of an exhibition ballroom dance troupe. It was only two years later that he would meet Ruth St. Denis after he moved to New York.

She was deep into Asian philosophies and believed that dance was a spiritual expression. The pair were married within two months of meeting and together they would become an inspired dancing couple.

What is ted shawn known for

Denis had a significant creative influence on her husband. They both believed in the potential of dance as an art form and had very innovative artistic visions. Shawn had some business knowledge that helped the couple in the opening of the first Denishawn School in , which became the first dancing academy of its kind in the States.

Through this school, many young talents had the opportunity of becoming professional dancers.