Sunday, July 11, 2010

Discover Your Inner Radha

In an Asia Society interview with author Amitav Ghosh, he urges us all to "discover our inner-Radha". He probably meant something more ephemeral, but I choose to seek out my inner Radha in the form of Ruth St. Denis.
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Watch the full video of the interview here, but be warned, it's long!


A ground-breaking choreographer, dancer, founding mother of a significant genre of dance, and generally gutsy woman (don't we love those?), she had a penchant for Asian cultures and took inspiration for her dance pieces from the religious stories and folk tales of the region with a distinct affinity for goddesses.
She also translated traditional Asian dress with gusto and blinged it up (totally in love with those stunning headpieces!) for the stage.
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These photos, like the especially captivating one above, are of her in costume for the piece entitled 'Radha'.



Read a concise write-up about St Denis here


Above, in costume for The Nautch Girl.

Above, in Gift of Eternal Life.
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All photos, from the brilliant New York Public Library catalogue, can be purchased online.

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