Isadora Duncan


Last night I attended "The Art and Life of Isadora Duncan", a presentation given at the Newberry Library. The highlight of the evening was brilliant and effervescent dancing performed by Lori Belilove from the Isadora Duncan Foundation for Contemporary Dance. Dancing to the music of Schubert, Chopin and Gluck she demonstrate the modern approach to the dance developed by Isadora Duncan at the beginning of the twentieth century. The dances ranged in emotion from spiritual to forceful, and one dance that was a lamentation for Duncan's children who died in a tragic car accident. The final dance, performed to the Dance of the Blessed Spirits by Gluck moved me to tears with its grace and beauty. In her presentation of Isadora's life Ms. Belilove shared many interesting details about the inspiration and spirit of Isadora Duncan, a true genius of the art of the dance. It is encouraging to know that this art is being preserved and performed by Lori and her company.