Mar 18 / Ruth Saint Denis: Introduction

 

 I
 
Unit: Ritual Dance
Theme: Ruth St. Denis & Ted Shawn
 

II

Introduction 

In 1914 St. Denis married Ted Shawn, her dance partner. The next year they founded the Denishawn school and company in Los Angeles. The school became known to international artists for more than 16 years.(1) Among her choreographic innovations were “music visualization”and a related choreographic form that she called “synchoric orchestra”.(2)

 III

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the application of the idea of "music visualization
  • Explain how "synchroric orchestra" helps the dancer to develop body expression
  • Gain awareness of St. Denis that "dance should be spiritual instead of simply entertaining or technically skillful"
  • Experience St. Denis' "new emphasis on meaning and the communication of ideas" by using themes previously considered too philosophical for theatrical dance.
  • Reflect on the work done in class

 

 IV

Main Lesson



  1


Warm Up
Alignment
Stretching
 
2


Review of Solos and Ensemble Phrases

3

Video

 


4


Analysis

Students discuss among themselves Ted Shawn's   dance. Using the question below as a prompt, they write about it and post their reflection on Discussion Board.


Question 1

Based on this video, what is ritual dance?

 

5


LINKS: Reading

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ruth-St-Denis

Check the link and read.


Analysis


Students discuss among themselves Ruth St. Denis's ideas about "music visualization."
 

Question 2

After reading the article on "Ruth St. Denis" what was the main idea about "music visualization."



6

Synchroric Technique


St. Denis worked upon a choreographic technique she called Synchroric.

 

Question 3

After reading the link above, explain what is St. Denis' Synchroric technique?


7

Link
 
According to St. Denis, ritual is "the manner of providing divine service" as it provides us with "the opportunity to align with our soul-force, to inhabit a world of emotions, feelings, of meaning." The purpose of ritual dance is to "transcend ego-consciousness and attain to consciousness of the self." The result is "a dancer's body without any theatricality or pretense," a body "clear and honest."(4)

Question 4

Explain in your own words what was St. Denis' dance philosophy?
 
 Question 5

 How does her philosophy of dance affect your ideal of the role of dance in human experience?
 
 
V

 Activity 1

Students try St. Denis' movements 

a) Music Visualization (Check the Glossary)

Timbres

Dynamics

Structural Shapes

Rhythmic Base 

 

Activity 2

b) Synchroric Orchestra

  Each  student chooses  to interpret the rhythms of one of the instruments of Ravel's orchestral piece Bolero.

Music

https://youtu.be/r30D3SW4OVw?si=LlVLV7_LpMBQfU2D 

 (14:49 min)

 
 ACTIVITY 3
 
 
Students study the space and the creation of a sacred space within the general space, in which they create ensemble and solo compositions tableau style using the concept of "structural shapes."
 


VI

A Note to Remember

 St. Denis, who retired briefly from public performance, founded the Society of Spiritual Arts and devoted much of the rest of her life to promoting the use of dance in religion. 

 

VII

Case Study


Video




Question 6
 
After watching the video above, in what way did Ted Shawn and Ruth St. Denis integrate Eastern principles into their dance?(3)




----------------------------------------------- 

 VIII

Glossary

Timbre: quality of auditory sensations produced by the tone and a sound wave.
Tone:In acoustics, it is sound that can be recognized by its regularity of vibration.
Sound wave:  that which is perceived by the ear. 
Dynamics: concerned with the motion of the body in relation to the physical factors that affect it: force, mass, momentum and energy.
Force: Any action that tends to maintain or alter the motion of a body.
Mass:  the resistance that a body of matter offers to a change in its speed or position upon the application of a force.
Momentum: product of the mass of the body and its velocity,  it is a constant force that acts on the body for a given time, the product of force and the time interval (the impulse), which  equals the change in momentum. 
Energy:  the capacity for doing work. It may exist in kinetic form as when the body moves.
Rhythmic base: in music, the placement of sounds in time and in dance the placement of movement in time.
Structural shapes: These can be curved, straight, angular, twisted, wide, narrow, symmetrical or asymmetrical.


 
IX
Journaling
 
Question 7 

Write your reflection about today's exploration of concepts and movement.
 
X
Sources
 
1. Abbott, Kate (2018). Ted Shawn and Ruth St. Denis transformed American dance with teachers around the world. https://btwberkshires.com/arts/ted-shawn-and-ruth-st-denis/

2. Ruth St. Denis. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ruth-St-Denis

3. Ruth St. Denis. Link: https://www.sutori.com/en/story/ruth-st-denis--jZBx5593noqbAUtjvwjhiU7L

4.  Roseman, Janet Lynn (2015). Dance was her Religion. Hohm Press. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dance_was_her_Religion/wI5XDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=%20ritual%20dance

  

 
XI

Students' Work

---------------------------- 


Liliana Li
 
Ruth Saint Denis

Question #1
Based on the video of Ted Shawn’s Cosmic Dance, ritual dance is a form of movement
that goes beyond performance and entertainment: It’s about creating a physical expression of
spiritual and/or cosmic forces. In Cosmic Dance, Ted Shawn’s movements feel deliberate,
grounded, and symbolic, like a sacred act rather than a show. Ritual dance emphasizes this
intention, presence, and seeks to elevate both the dancer and the audience.
Question #2
After reading the article on Ruth St. Denis. The main idea about “music visualization” is
that dance movements should embody the structure and feeling of the music itself. Instead of
dancing with music as a background. Denis believed that the dancer should physically be able to
express what the music is doing, from its rhythms and melodies to its emotional tones. In music
visualization, choreography essentially becomes a translation of sound into movement, creating a
visible representation of it for the audience.
Question #3
St. Denis’ synchronic technique is a method of dance which emphasizes the integration of
the mind, body, and spirit altogether. It encourages the dancer to synchronize their internal
emotional state with their external physical movement and action, instead of just focusing on
steps and musical counts. A true dance arises when the inner life of the dancer flows outward
naturally into physical form. This technique focuses on authenticity, connection to a greater
spiritual/cosmic order, and self-awareness through movement.
Question #4
St. Denis’ dance philosophy was centered around the idea that dance is a spiritual art
form. She believed that dance was a way to connect the human body to divine forces and a
higher consciousness. To her, dance was a sacred act that could reveal inner truths and universal
principles. She emphasized the dancer’s inner world, personal emotion, and spiritual exploration
as the core of a meaningful dance, rather than pure technical perfection.
Question #5
Her philosophy makes me think about dance in a much deeper way, especially because I
understand where she comes from spiritually. Instead of seeing dance as only a skill or
performance, I now see how it can be a reflection of my inner experiences and emotions. Dance
becomes a tool for emotional expression, healing, and connection, with both people and
something larger than ourselves. It shifts the role of dance from entertainment to a powerful,
transformative aspect of the human experience.
Question #6
After watching the video of Ruth St. Denis performing East Indian Nautch Dance, I see
that both she and Ted Shawn integrated Eastern principles by emphasizing ritual, spirituality, and
symbolic meaning within their choreographies. They seem to borrow gestures, ideas, and
rhythms from Indian dance traditions, and then adapt them into a more theatrical style. Their
work showed respect for the spiritual roots of Eastern cultures all while also merging those
principles with Western modern dance concepts about self-expression.
Question #7
Today’s exploration of concepts and movement made me realize how interconnected
dance, emotion, and spirituality actually are. Understanding the philosophies behind Ted Shawn
and Ruth St. Denis’ work helped expand my view of what dance can be, or what it can mean and
represent. Movement isn’t just about steps and choreography: It can be a personal ritual and an
emotional journey to many. It made me more aware of how intention matters in dance, and how a
single gesture can help the dancer demonstrate deeper meaning when it comes from an authentic
place inside of the dancer.



 

 
 
 
 

 
 

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