Themes Over Time

Isadora Duncan's works varied throughout her lifetime. Her life's trials and struggles influenced her works as she grew older. In the beginning of her career she was very joyful. From 1900 to 1913 her dances exhibited inspiration from nature and from Greek culture. Her lyrical years were from 1900 to 1910 and these consisted of themes of nature. She was young, joyful, and graceful. Her movement during this era was very childlike and celebratory. Also during this time she studied sculptures, case paintings, bas reliefs and mythologies from the ancient Greek culture and gained inspiration for new movement and costuming. Her movement and themes were still very joyful during this time. All of this changed after 1913. Some of the pieces from this time include Water Study, Ballspiel, and Lullabye and Morning Star, Musette, and Bacchanal.

Here is a short piece of Duncan's Ballspiel performed by dancer Maria Simpson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDA8TOFpbG8

Isadora Duncan was greatly affected by the repercussions of WWI and by the death of her two children. Her daughter Deirdre and son Patrick died tragically in a drowning. The car driven by their nanny rolled off the road into the river Seine and all three drowned. "Her dances Mother and  Marche Funebre, featuring music by Scriabin and Chopin respectively, were inspired by her loss and conveyed her heartbreak on a universal level" ("Who") . Her choreography from 1912 to 1920 were considered the "Heroic and Monumental" dances ("Who"). Also being effected by WWI she choreographed dances such as Military Polonaise and Nocturne Duet that was marked by heroic postures that depicted a battle of adversity and oppression ("Dances"). 

Marche Funebre performed by Patricia Adams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_jWuO57kLA

From 1908 to 1915, Duncan choreographed pieces that dealt with her constant battle to reconcile her love life and her art. Pieces such as, The Many Faces of Love, Frolic, Rose Petals, and Flames of the Heart all showed the torment she experienced and her life as a woman ("Dances"). Duncan's choreography spoke the truth and told her life story. 

Rose Petals staged by Loretta Thomas for Triad Dance Ensemble's performance at the Tutsten Theater in Narrowsburg, NY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAvdFSiHQwk

At the end of her career from 1912-1925 Duncan was responding to the Russion Revolution. A lot of these pieces were based off political occurrences. A few of these pieces include Revolutionary, The Crossing at St. Petersburg, and Marche Slav ("Dances"). The choreography played with the contrast between movement and stillness ("Who"). 

Here is Lori Belilove, the Artistic Director of the Isadora Duncan Dance Company, performing The Revolutionary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0ic5gNsNSM

Duncan experienced a lot of trials in her lifetime and she freely shared these with the world through her choreography. 


Works Cited

"Dances from the Repertory of Isadora Duncan." Lori Belilove and the Isadora Duncan Dance Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2014.

"Who was Isadora Duncan?" Lori Belilove and the Isadora Duncan Dance Company. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2014.