notes

Her mother encouraged her and arranged for lessons with eminent ballet masters. However, her real inspiration came from Mary Wood Hinman, who taught dance at the school

At Denishawn, Miss Ruth encouraged Doris to choreograph. Her first composition was “Valse Caprice” (also known as “Scarf Dance”), followed by “Soaring”, and “Scherzo Waltz” (“Hoop Dance”), all of which continue to be performed by various companies today.

Her choreography explored the nuances of the human body's responses to gravity, embodied in her principle of "fall and recovery". With it, she built a repertory of works among them “Water Study,” “Life of the Bee,” “Two Ecstatic Themes,” and “The Shakers.”

They created works addressed to contemporary concerns. In this period, Doris Humphrey choreographed the dramatic trilogy “Theatre Piece,” an exposition of innate human competitiveness and rivalry, “With My Red Fires,” a portrayal of emotional life, the consuming passion of love, and “New Dance,” a depiction of the possibility of reaching a state of human harmony which recognizes individualism.

In 1958, she made her last and very lasting contribution, a book, The Art of Making Dances, in which she set forth her choreographic principles.

http://www.dorishumphrey.org/the-early-years/

http://depts.washington.edu/uwdance/cdc/archive/repertoire.php?t=chor&id=2