Glimpses of Isadora Duncan

Many people have posted on Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) on You Tube.

Some, the footage of her rapturously executing the final few steps of an outdoor performance.

Others, photographs of her dancing, images that curiously seem to capture some of the dynamism and modernness of her movement.

Theres also film reputedly of Isadora dancing at the Parthenon. Given that the Greek ideal was one of her primary sources of inspiration and that shes been photographed at the site, its not entirely unlikely that she'd have wanted to be filmed there. But it could equally well be a disciple, following in her footsteps.

And theres footage of Isadora on board ship with the Russian poet Sergei Yesenin, whom she married in 1922.

Finally and perhaps rather unfortunately I noticed French newsreel footage of the car in which Isadora met her death.

All these resources are spread about and seem to justify a post putting them all together.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Isadora Duncan
• modern dance
• Sergei Yesenin

[odasestepes]

Thank you for posting. However, the video at the Parthenon looks fake and the car at the end of the video is (according to the voice in French, which says "noyade des enfants d'Isadora Duncan") the car where her children drowned in Paris.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi odasestepes - yes, there's been doubt expressed about the authenticity of the film - the only footage acknowledged as authentic is that of isadora performing at an outdoor gathering. and yes, after i listened again i realised it was the car the children were in, not isadora - she did of course die in a car accident but there was no water involved. thanks for your comment - cheers!

[pupshoo]

the video at the parthenon is can not be her... there is no grace of line that is apparent in all the stills of Isadora Duncan

[nickwallacesmith]

hi pupshoo - yes, i'd always understood there was only one moving record of isadora - someone suggested who the parthenon dancer was. cheers

[flicker2754]

I think the news footage of the auto being towed out of the water shows the vehicle her children died in when it crashed into the Seine. The scarf incident was in a Bugatti racing car.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi flicker2754 - yes, i'm sure you are right - thanks for that, really appreciated

[nickwallacesmith]

hi TheNaomiengland - i've heard a lot about her - and there are all the myths that have grown up on top of the truth - but she was quite a fascinating personality - do you like her?

[TheNaomiengland]

@nickwallacesmith do you like Mata Hari?

[nickwallacesmith]

hi TheNaomiengland - isn't it - makes her real in some way

[TheNaomiengland]

nice