Ted Shawn

Date of Birth: October 21, 1891

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: January 9, 1972

Biography

Ted Shawn, born Edwin Myers Shawn, was a pioneering American dancer and choreographer, widely regarded as one of the founding figures of modern dance. Born on October 21, 1891, in Kansas City, Missouri, Shawn initially pursued a career in theology but turned to dance after contracting diphtheria, which left him partially paralyzed. Dance became a form of physical therapy for him, and he quickly developed a passion for it. In 1914, Shawn married Ruth St. Denis, a fellow dancer and choreographer, and together they founded the Denishawn School of Dancing and Related Arts in Los Angeles in 1915. The school became a seminal institution for modern dance in America, training such luminaries as Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, and Charles Weidman. In 1931, after his professional and personal relationship with St. Denis ended, Shawn founded Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers, the first all-male dance company in America. This groundbreaking ensemble sought to challenge prevailing stereotypes about male dancers and to elevate the art form. Ted Shawn is also the founder of Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, established in 1933 in Becket, Massachusetts. The festival remains one of the most prestigious dance festivals in the world. Shawn continued to influence the dance world until his death on January 9, 1972.

5 Interesting Facts about Ted Shawn

1. Ted Shawn initially studied to become a minister before turning to dance.

2. He and Ruth St. Denis founded the Denishawn School, which trained some of the most influential dancers of the 20th century.

3. Shawn founded the first all-male dance company in America, Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers.

4. He established the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in 1933, a significant cultural institution that continues to thrive.

5. Shawn’s work helped to challenge and change societal perceptions of male dancers.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Ted Shawn

1. “Dance is the only art of which we ourselves are the stuff of which it is made.”

2. “The body is a sacred garment.”

3. “I see dance being used as communication between body and soul, to express what it too deep to find for words.”

4. “We are at the beginning of a new era in dance where the male dancer is no longer seen merely as a partner to the ballerina.”

5. “Movement never lies. It is a barometer telling the state of the soul’s weather to all who can read it.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Ted Shawn’s highest net worth is not well-documented, as artists in his era often did not amass wealth comparable to contemporary standards. However, his contributions to dance have an immeasurable cultural and historical value.