Ruth St. Denis (1880-1968) appeared in Broadway musicals as a teenager and was a protégé of David Belasco. She based her career on interpretations of dances from India, Egypt and Asia with titles such as Cobras, Incense, Radha, Egypta, and O-Mika. In 1914, Ruth teamed up with Ted Shawn to create a school called Denishawn in Los Angeles. She was also the founder of the Society for the Spiritual Arts (1934) and began the Church of the Divine Dance at her studio in Los Angeles (1946). The collection consists of 200 bound volumes of handwritten journals, as well as 27 rolls of diaries on microfilm, beginning at the turn of the century and continuing until the weeks before St. Denis's death.

Ruth St. Denis was born as Ruth Dennis on January 20, 1880 in New Jersey; as a teenager she appeared in Broadway musicals and was a protégé of David Belasco; she based her career on interpretations of dances from India, Egypt and Asia with titles such as Cobras, Incense, Radha, Egypta, and O-Mika; teamed up with Ted Shawn in 1914 to create a school called Denishawn in Los Angeles; toured with dancers including Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Charles Weidman, and future film stars Louise Brooks and Carol Dempster; founder, Society for the Spiritual Arts, 1934; began the Church of the Divine Dance at her studio on Cahuenga Blvd. in Los Angeles, 1946; died in Hollywood, California, on July 21, 1968.

163 boxes (81.5 linear ft.) 10 oversize boxes

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Restrictions on Access COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access. Boxes 1-3 available on microfilm in Department of Special Collections. Originals not available for consultation due to fragile condition.