Famous Women Dancers

When it comes to famous women, dancers are top tier in both achievement and intrigue. Read on to learn about some of dance’s most influential females, and how they have changed our dance culture for the better.

Famous Women Dancers Change The Art

While male dancers such as Baryshnikov will always be revered as the revolutionaries of dance, there are plenty of female contributors that are well worth noting. From the most traditional of ballet to today’s more unconventional modern forms, famous women dancers have forever changed the face of dance and continue to shape it today. Below are just a few of these powerful females who not only mastered their chosen art, but opened doors for future generations of dance.

Small but Influential Anna

If you are a ballet enthusiast, chances are you have heard of Anna Pavlova, the physically tiny Russian ballerina who rocked the world of classical ballet at the turn of the century. After being accepted into the elite Imperial Ballet School, it didn’t take her teachers long to realize that her unique style was exceptional to the craft, and she became an instant hit. It is estimated that she performed over 4,000 times, and started a ballet trend here in America, as many little girls began to take lessons after seeing one of her performances. Anna also was instrumental in the design of today’s modern pointe shoe, and was so passionate about her craft, that she actually died while rehearsing for a show in Europe. She became an inspiration to many future ballerinas, and her gumption and drive for the art of dance has long been cherished.

Martha, the Mother of Modern Dance

Love her or hate her, most agree that modern dance would be quite different today without her. Martha Graham has been continually referred to as the “mother of American dance,” having broken away from traditional ballet, focusing instead upon the ferociously unconventional and sharp movements that would become modern dance. Her style is high-energy and fierce, involving an abrupt and jerking style that can truly only be achieved by dancers gifted in her specific arena. Many argue that Graham’s movements cannot be taught, as they are rather “felt” by each individual dancer.

In 1998, Martha Graham was honored as one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people, and her style and choreography continue to be replicated all throughout the modern dance world. Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, and Merce Cunningham are just a few of her “descendants,” and her unique brand of dance is sure to live on for future generations.

Prima Ballerina Suzanne

Noted dancer and choreographer, Suzanne Farrell, got her first big break as a member of the corp de ballet in the New York City Ballet. Discovered by George Balanchine’s famous School of American Ballet, she went on to have one of the longest careers enjoyed by a ballerina (28 years), she carried on the classic Balanchine style to students of future generations through the start of her Suzanne Farrell Ballet in Washington D.C.

She has since received numerous awards, including honorary degrees from Yale, Harvard, Georgetown, and Notre Dame, making her one of the highest “educated” dancers of all time. Having traveled the world teaching and performing, Farrell continues to inspire students worldwide, and is one of ballet’s most cherished contributors.

Internationally Acclaimed Isadora

While she never reached the same magnitude of popularity as Suzanne or Martha, Isadora Duncan is one of the earliest American contributors to modern dance. She was born in San Francisco in 1877, and went on to choreograph pieces inspired by Greek myths and contemporary improvisation.

Her career really took off in Europe, prompting a move to Moscow in 1922. While she eventually returned to the West, she truly became celebrated as a European artist, eventually dying in France where she is now buried today. Even though the majority of her dancing career was enjoyed in Europe, Isadora’s contributions to dance are far from obscure. Some still refer to her as the “mother of modern dance,” even though Martha Graham usually holds a similar accolade.

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