Doris Humphrey got her start at Denishawn,
where she was a principle dancer.
After years with Miss Ruth and Ted Shawn, she became involved in her
first of many public collaborations.
She became co-choreographer to Miss Ruth, and together with her
choreographed works such as Soaring and Sonata Pathetique,which are still being
staged and performed today. While she certainly valued her time with Denishawn, it
inspired her to go in a completely different direction with her choreographic
career.
In 1928 She took her departure from Denishawn
along with Charles Weidman. They
started the Humphrey-Weidman company and studio, and worked together until it's
dissolution in 1944. Doris and
Charles were both interested in exploring beyond the exotic and superficial
world of Denishawn. Instead,
choosing to investigate dances without the frill, even choreographing works
that were unaccompanied by music.
Additionally, both Humphrey and Weidman collaborated with Pauline
Laurence, who left Denishawn with them.
She served as the receptionist, accompanist, business manager, and
costume designer for Humphrey-Weidman.
Perhaps Humphrey's best demonstration of
working with a fellow artist is with Jose Limon. Limon was a Humphrey-Weidman dancer who, after enlisting,
started his own company. Doris,
after retiring from her career as a dancer, became the artistic director and a
choreographer for Jose's company.
It was with the Limon company
that Doris choreographed famous works such as Lament for
Ignacio Sanchez Mejias, and Day on Earth. It is no surprise that an artist who contributed so much to
the world of dance was truly open to collaboration.
"José
Limón and Pauline Lawrence Limón Photograph Files 1910?-1972?" José Limón and Pauline Lawrence Limón
Photograph Files. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
<http://archives.nypl.org/dan/19737>.
A preview of Humphrey's "Day on Earth."
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