Isadora Duncan dancer

Strategy By
Jenny McBride
Link/Citation

Genthe, Arnold, photographer. Isadora Duncan dancers. Between 1915 and 1923. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/2018708215/.(link is external)

Source Type:
Photographs and Prints
Suggested Grade Level and Audience: Grade 9, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12
Instructional value of primary source for the curriculum and/or classroom
  • This image of Isadora Duncan can be paired with literary works like The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald or "A Room of One’s Own" by Virginia Woolf. It could also be incorporated into a unit centered on themes of the American Dream, identity, traditionalism, and/or individualism.
  • When paired with The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Duncan's image could represent the culture of the Jazz Age, a time of societal change, artistic innovation, and the pursuit of pleasure. The defiance of societal norms expressed in the image could be seen as a different kind of American Dream, one that values individuality and self-expression over material wealth and social status. Furthermore, it could be juxtaposed with Daisy’s character and her traditional role as a woman during this time.
  • When paired with "A Room of One’s Own" by Virginia Woolf, Duncan's image could be used to illustrate the importance of freedom and space for women to express themselves creatively. Her unconventional dance style could be compared to the unconventional writing styles of Woolf.
  • In more open-ended units that focus on themes of the American Dream, identity, traditionalism, and/or individualism, this image could be included to challenge traditional norms, spark discussions of societal expectations, and individual expression.
Summary/Description

This image captures Isadora Duncan, a famous American ballerina who challenged tradition and showcased the power of imagination and originality. In this image, the viewer will notice that Duncan is barefoot and wearing nontraditional clothing. Her style of ballet, in contrast to traditional ballet, appears to be much more free-flowing and relaxed. Her hair is also wild and undone, which falls outside of the traditional slicked-back buns ballerinas often wear. 

Context for the Primary Source
  • Isadora Duncan's career coincided with a time of rapid social and political change, including industrialization, urbanization, and women's rights movements.
  • Isadora Duncan was viewed as innovative and a disruptor because she challenged tradition, which was valued in American culture.
  • Influenced by romantic ideals, Art Nouveau, and symbolism, Duncan sought to express emotions and ideas through natural, flowing movement.
  • Isadora Duncan challenged traditional ballet conventions, embraced modern dance elements, gained international recognition, and used her platform for social and political activism.
Focus Question(s)
  • How does Isadora Duncan's dance style challenge traditional notions of femininity and beauty?
  • How does the image showcase or connect to themes of freedom, identity, and self-expression?
  • How does Duncan's image juxtapose or reinforce societal expectations about women's roles and abilities?
Standards Connections

Missouri (link is external)Learning Standards

9-10.RL/RI.1.A: Draw conclusions, infer, and analyze by citing relevant and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

  • Students will analyze the image and be able to make inferences based on what they see. They should then explain inferences using details from the photograph.

11-12.RL/RI.1.A: Draw conclusions, infer, and analyze by citing relevant and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including where the text leaves matters uncertain.

  • Students will analyze the image and be able to make inferences based on what they see. They should then explain inferences using details from the photograph. They will ask questions based on their observations.
Suggested Teaching Approaches
  • Educators may prompt students to compare and contrast themes present in the image with themes in literary texts like The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, "A Room of One’s Own" by Virginia Woolf, or other texts with similar themes.
  • Educators may prompt students to reference this image in preparation for a Socratic Seminar about themes and overarching questions connected to novel studies or unit themes.
Potential for Challenge
  • There have been challenges to teaching individualism and anything outside of what some consider societal norms and traditions. Certain religious or political groups may take offense to having discussions about deviating from tradition.

Links to resources for approaching those topics

Alternative or Complementary Primary Sources
  1. This alternative image of Isadora Duncan(link is external) in which she is in a more  conservative dress and pose. 
Additional References
  1. Auguste Rodin(link is external) was a French sculptor who admired Isadora Duncan and what she meant to the creatives of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. Examine his life and works to draw comparisons with Duncan’s. 
  2. Carl Sandburg(link is external), American poet, was inspired by Isadora Duncan and what she meant to the arts world. Students can examine his National Parks site and look for comparisons. 
Subject:
American Popular Culture , Art and Architecture , Photography
Topics:
Arts and Culture , Performing Arts , Photographs, Prints, and Posters
Year/Date of Creation or Publication
1923