“The Dance of the Future, I see America Dancing, and Richard Wagner” by: Isadora Duncan Presentation by: Andrew Giles and Francesca San Roman and Edited By: Laura Pratt and Dr. Kay Picart

The Dance of the Future “So you see that to convince people, I am of little value and ought not to speak. But I am brought from the seclusion of my study, trembling and stammering before a public and told to lecture on the dance of the future.” (262) D/duncan.htm

Sources of dance What si the real source of dance? “We do not stand on the beach and inquire if the ocean what was its movement in the past and what will be its movement in the future” (262) -If animals are put under false restrictions, they lose the ability to move in harmony with nature; same with civilized man…

Is ballet a true expression? -Ballet goes against the will of the individual, the movements are unnatural. kandinskyannotations4.htm

Duncan’s hopes for dance instruction What did Duncan want to teach about movement? lpm-po5.htm

Ballet VS New Dance Dancing school of the future is to show the ‘ideal form of woman’. (264) Question of ballet vs. new dance was one whose ramifications went beyond dance...

Discussion question Is Dance a natural expression of the soul through the body, or a disciplined practice meant to be aesthetically pleasing to the audience? Digests03Nov3/Heather

I See America Dancing Inspired by Walt Whitman to see a new American expression. “... I, too, had a Vision: the Vision of America dancing a dance that would be the worthy expression of the song Walt heard when he heard America singing.” (265)

Jazz-- the great American music? -What did Duncan believe about Jazz and dance? dustjackets/jazz.html

Discussion question This was written in Do you believe the music she speaks of has been invented yet? Will ever be invented? varietes-et-style-...

Discussion question In Duncan’s eyes, could Wagner have created the new American expression, since she believed his work- transcended boundaries?

Works Cited Ed. Marshall Cohen, and Roger Copeland. What is Dance? New York: Oxford UP, D/duncan.htm kandinskyannotations4.htm lpm-po5.htm Digests03Nov3/Heather dustjackets/jazz.html varietes-et-style-... hem.passagen.se/.../ romantic/richard_wagner.htm