Doris Humphrey

Doris Batcheller Humphrey (October 17, 1895 – December 29, 1958) was a dancer of the early twentieth century. She was born in Oak Park, Illinois but grew up inChicago, Illinois; she was a descendant of Pilgrim William Brewster and Simon James Humphrey.

In 1928, she and fellow dancer Charles Weidman separated from the Denishawn School and moved to New York City, to become key figures in the modern dancemovement. Her choreography explored the nuances of the human body's responses to gravity, embodied in her principle of fall and recovery. Her choreography from these early years includes "Water Study," "Life of the Bee," "Two Ecstatic Themes," and "The Shakers."

The Humphrey-Weidman Company was successful even in the darkness of the Great Depression, touring America and developing new styles and new works based not on old tales, but on current events and concerns. In the mid-1930s, Humphrey created the "New Dance Trilogy", a triptych comprising "With My Red Fires," "New Dance," and the now-lost "Theater Piece."

One of her last pieces, "Dawn in New York," featured the strengths she demonstrated throughout her career -- her mastery of the intricacies of large groups, and her emphasis on sculptural shapes.

Humphrey was on the original faculties of both The Bennington School of the Dance (1934) and The Juilliard School (1951), both directed by Martha Hill.