University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1908-11-13
ISIDORA DUNCAN

4 "a
]V to dance here for the first time
since she came into measurable
international celebrity, next Wednesda!
and Thursday evenings at Jordan Han
is one of the prophetesses that Practice
what they preach. She not only dances
Greek, but, according to a reporter o'
the Sun who had conversation WIFI
her in New York the other day, she
looks Greek, in private life. Even the
cosmopolitan atmosphere of the Plaza
Hotel does not reduce her to the Level
of the women who sit about and travei
up and down in the lift with this slight
sfgure in the flowing Hellenic draperles'
In the seclusion of her own salon Miss
Duncan wore white sandals and loose
white gown not unlike coat that did
not fit the figure and barely touched
the floor, opening over pale blue smock
that hung straight to the floor in 'front.'
The long coat of course covered it IN
the back. Then over her head, tied SO
high under her chin that it hid the
lower part of the face, was a pale rose
tinted veil, knotted several times before
it's two ends fell to the floor. Far down
over the back of her hands fell the loose
sleeves of the white overgarment, which,
like the other half of the costume, was
made of crepe with figure of the same
color as the material. 1t is certain that
Miss Duncan wore sandals. The report
er saw them. Then he saw something
that looked like stockings but were diff
ferent. They were in the place where
stockings usually go, but they were very
loose and full. They answered the same
purpose, although one could not sup
press the fearful thought that they
must wrinkle terribly under the sole.
Are you one of the people who want
to know what think of my imitators!"
Miss Duncan asked the reporter. 'Then
/ will tell you what say to all that
want to know. Those that initiate me
may take off their stockings and other
parts of dress and they may then do
rather stupid and perhaps vulgar
things; but they are proof in their lit
tie way of what the movement that l
began here ten years ago has accom-
plished. There is at least a charm in
dancing without shoes and stockings and
stays that every public can appreciate.
So these numerous women that initiate
me are really bearing evidence to the
fact that the standards of beauty in the
dance I first struggled to make known
are recognized everywhere. Don't think
have imitators only in America. They |
follow me wherever 1 60. They sprang |
up even in the Caucasus when l went |
here, and Germany is full of them"
Miss Duncan is not in the least an
aggressive person. She speaks in very
ow voice, but her enunciation is very
Instinct. There is little popularity of
lccent in her speech, which is musically
Iondonese if it is anything. 'Then
here are so many of the opera houses
n Europe that have already put my
deas of dancing into more or less COM
,lete operation" she went on. in st.
where l have had some of
ny greatest success, there is a tablet
'ver the entrance to the training room
# the dancers of the Imperial Russian
)pera House reading that it is the pur-
'Ose of the school to copy the principles
f Isadora Duncan's art. They are car
led out in certain sort of way, surely
S well as might be expected, although
wished they had not referred to the
principles as mine. 1 am only trying
o put into the dance what everybody
Tho loved it and realized what it meant.
rom Socrates and Plato down to the
resent day, has said and thought.
lusic from its seven tones and their
alf tones may in the hands of a mas
er produce a symphony. The human
ody has certain rhythms which if they
e trained. could accomplish perhaps al
lost as much in the expression of
eauty. All that 1 am trying to do is
D restore the knowledge of people as
D what the power of the dance for 6
eauty is. Naturally for the most per-
,ct means of expressing the beauty pos Z
ble to the body in the dance l have ,
one back to the Greek models. 1t was ,
mong them more than among any other ,
alton that the dance was brought to its
lghest power as means of expressing 3
n art"
Animals Memory. I