Isadora Duncan
Isadora is considered the mother of American modern dance. She brought a new feeling to her dancing by switching from corsets, slippers, and tutus to tunics for more freedom. She choreographed to many different famous composers. She considered her dances more art than entertainment, and she wanted them to be considered as movement. She was very expressive in her movements which set her apart from the ballet world. She soon started her own company called the Isadorables which was located outside of Berlin.
Ruth St. Denis
Ruth grew up in a bohemian environment and had performed since she was a child. Later in life, she met David Belaso in a New York theatre and he greatly inspired her. She called her movement "translations" because it included theatrical motions and was based on Indian and Egyptian myths. She later opened a company with Ted Shawn called Denishawn. This company was a very important place because it was where many successful modern Dancers trained.
Martha Graham
Martha trained at Denishawn for seven years and eventually taught there. She and Ted Shawn worked very closely and even performed a duet that became quite famous. She developed her own style of dance which she called contraction and release. She based this movement on the Delsartean form; tension and relaxation. This form gave dancers an angular look which conflicted with the lyrical, smooth look of Isadora and Ruth.
Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman
Doris studied at the Denishawn in L.A. Her unique abilities were soon discovered and she began to invent her own style of dance known as the fall and recovery style. When she left Denishawn, she began her independent work in New York with Charles Weidman who had also previously attended Denishawn. He was a very masculine dancer which attracted many men to the style. Together they opened the Humphrey-Weidman Studio and Company.