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Ted Shawn (21 October 1891 — 9 January 1972), originally Edwin Myers Shawn, was one of the first notable male pioneers of American modern dance. Along with creating Denishawn with former wife Ruth St. Denis he is also responsible for the creation of all-male dance company Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers. With his innovative ideas of masculine movement he was one of the most influential choreographers and dancers of his day. He founded Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Massachusetts.

Ted Shawn and the creation of Denishawn
Ted Shawn was born in Kansas City, Missouri on October 21, 1891. Originally intending to become a minister of religion, he attended the University of Denver. In 1910 he took up dance training to regain his muscle strength, after a bout of diphtheria. However his training met with disapproval at his Methodist-affiliated University. As a result, he was expelled the following year.

Shawn did not realize his true potential as an artist until marrying Ruth St. Denis in 1914. St. Denis became Shawn's most important influence and teacher in Dance. Soon after their marriage the couple opened the first Denishawn School in Los Angeles, California, where they were able to choreograph and stage many of their famous dance pieces. A very famous piece of advice that Shawn used to give to his dancers was "When in doubt, twirl."

The following year Shawn launched a cross-country tour with his dance partner, Norma Gould, and their Interpretive Dancers. Notable performances choreographed by him during Denishawn’s 17-year run include Julnar of the Sea, Xochitl and Les Mysteres Dionysiaques. The Denishawn Dance Company went on to produce such influential dancers as Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman.

Technique and Style
Together, Shawn and Ruth St. Denis established the principle of Music Visualization in modern dance —- a concept that called for movement equivalent to the timbres, dynamics, and structural shapes of music in addition to its rhythmic base.

Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers
Denishawn Dance Company came to an end in 1929 after the couple's marital breakdown. The economic situation of the times was also a strong factor in its closure. Shawn however went on to form a new dance group, Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers. The new all-male company was based on a woodland farm near Lee, Massachusetts. With his new company, Shawn produced his most skilled choreography to date. His new work showcased masculine physicality and emphasised the role of the male dancer beyond traditional understandings that placed the female dancer as the primary presence in a dance, and the male dancer as the counterbalance. With works such as Ponca Indian Dance, Sinhalese Devil Dance, Maori War Haka, Hopi Indian Eagle Dance, and Dyak Spear Dances, Shawn stressed masculine movement in its own right for the first time. Shawn formed new bonds with his dancers. He formed a romantic relationship with Barton Mumaw, which lasted from 1931 to 1948. Later, he formed another partnership with John Christian, with whom he stayed from 1949 until his death in 1972.

Creation of Jacob’s Pillow
Jacob's Pillow began as a dance school where Shawn developed and taught his choreography, it was a dance theatre and a retreat where performers regularly gathered to share their ideas and discuss their work. These relaxed 'tea-gatherings' were to become the basis for the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. The festival has since become one of the largest and most respected dance festivals, with performances and guests from some of the most prominent companies in the world. Having a place where anybody could come and show their work without restrictions or bias is something that Shawn fought for and gladly wanted to share with others. The creation of Jacob’s Pillow has allowed this to happen. Through the School of Dance for Men which followed the establishment of Jacob's Pillow, Shawn realised his dream of creating a forum for male dancers. Through his efforts, Dance began to be included in college curricula nationwide.

Shawn made his last appearance on stage in Siddhas of the Upper Air performed in the Ted Shawn Theater at Jacob’s Pillow where he was reunited with St. Denis. --Cosmos45 (talk) 13:26, 18 May 2012 (UTC) Shawn and St. Denis danced on their 50th anniversary at the Casino in Saratoga Springs, New York [needs clarity]. Saratoga Springs is now the home of the National Museum of Dance, the world's only museum dedicated to professional dance. Shawn was inducted into the museum's C.V. Whitney Hall of Fame in 1987. Shawn was still teaching classes at Jacob’s Pillow just months before his death at the age of 80.