April 28, 2020

Ephrastic April, Day 28: "Ruth St. Denis"


"Ruth St. Denis" (1910) by Alice Pike Barney [1857-1931].

not trusting in
the brilliance of talent

the dancer fails to
let herself shine
preferring tricks of light

with rhinestones


© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.

Artist, Alice Pike Barney, captured the spirit of modern dancer Ruth St. Denis. If you think the costume she was painted in is overly bejeweled, look below to see some contemporary photographs of St. Denis.


Ruth St. Denis in Radha (1906), NYPL Digital Collections, Denishawn Collection.


Ruth St. Denis in first costume for Radha. Bust portrait. (1904), NYPL Digital Collections, Denishawn Collection.



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