I S A D O R A
D U N C A N
Isadora Duncan
deserves a monument because of her essential contributions to the progression of modern dance. She broke convention at a time when the dance world was resistant to growth, opening the door to an entirely new style of dance.
BIOGRAPHY Isadora Duncan is often credited as a pioneer of American modern dance. Born in 1878 in California, she defied the strict traditionalism of ballet during her lifetime. She danced with a freedom from convention that challenged the dance world to welcome modern techniques. Her signature style was inspired by ancient Greek mythology, the natural movement of wind and the sea, and classical music. Duncan toured throughout the Americas and Europe, to varied
reception. Her loose hair, flowy costumes, and bare feet defied the culture of her time (touring the US first in 1895 and moving to Europe in 1899). In 1902 she found critical success from the Hungarian press after performing her choreography with a full orchestra. She continued touring her art, adjusting plans through both world wars and getting caught up in Cold War tensions. Adding to her legend, Duncan died in 1927 after her scarf got caught in the wheel of a sports car.
To this day she is considered the “Mother of Modern Dance”. In 1998, Deborah Jowitt, dance critic with Village Voice, described Duncan’s impact on dance saying, “She emphasized the connectedness of body and soul at a time when links between human beings, their work, and the land were being severed and Victorian prudery shaped moral law.”
The monument should be an abstract recreation of a dancer. It should be a sculpture of bold, swooping lines in the shape of a Duncan dancer jumping, protruding out of a reflecting pool. The abstraction of Duncan’s image honors her focus on the spirit and soul of dance over the specific shapes and placements. The reflecting pool creates an even livelier
image, rippling the reflection of the sculpture in relationship to its surroundings. The water and wind impacting it also pay homage to Duncan’s inspiration from nature. The edge of the reflecting pool should be inscribed with this quote from Duncan, “To express what is the most moral, healthful, and beautiful in art—this is the mission of the dancer, and to this I dedicate my life.”
HOLTON PLAZA GEORGE MASON FA I R FA X C A M P U S
This monument could be placed in Holton Plaza on the GMU Fairfax campus, at the site where the George Mason statue was during last year’s construction. The location is right behind the deLaski Performing Arts Building, where Mason’s dance department is located. It is also near the Center for Performing Arts, the theater in which many touring dance companies perform. This location would be fitting because of its proximity to places in which modern dance is actively happening, and dancers are continuing to explore her vision for expressive, soulful movement.
BU DA P E ST HUNGARY
A second location could be in Budapest, Hungary. It was here that Duncan began to have widely acknowledged success, running a sold-out show for 30 days. Budapest was a turning point for Duncan, transitioning from being a just a shocking figure to also enjoying critical success.