Isadora Duncan, fount of inspiration for 20th century dance, was a wild one

"La Danse", bas-relief d'Antoine Bourdelle (Théâtre des Champs Elysées, Paris)
Originally uploaded by dalbera

Isadora Duncan, American dancer and celebraity, was a singular and powerful exponent of modern dance and modern life at the turn of the century. She died at age 50 in 1927.

Duncan's insistence on more natural movement than that performed in ballet, along with the use of unrestricted costumes and utilization of emotional expression were highly influential on other dancers.

Both in her professional and private lives, Duncan flouted traditional mores and morality (was outrageous), says Wikipedia. In 1922 she married the Russian poet Sergei Yesenin, who was 18 years her junior. Yesenin accompanied her on a tour of Europe; his alcoholism resulted in drunken rages, with repeated destruction of furniture and interiors of their hotel rooms, bringing Duncan much negative publicity.

Duncan bore two children, both out of wedlock—the first, Deirdre (born September 24, 1906), by theatre designer Gordon Craig, and the second, Patrick (born May 1, 1910)[1], by Paris Singer, one of the many sons of sewing machine magnate Isaac Singer.

Her private life was considered scandalous, especially following the drowning of Deirdre and Patrick in an accident on the Seine River on April 19, 1913.

Following the accident, Duncan spent several months recuperating in Corfu with her brother and sister. After this, she spent several weeks at the Viareggio seaside resort with actress Eleonora Duse. The fact that Duse was just coming out of a lesbian relationship with rebellious young lesbian feminist Lina Poletti fueled speculation as to the nature of Duncan and Duse's relationship, but there has never been definite proof that the two were involved romantically.[2]

During her last United States tour, in 1922-23, Duncan waved a red scarf and bared her breast on stage in Boston, proclaiming, "This is red! So am I!". She was bisexual and had a lengthy and passionate affair with poet Mercedes de Acosta.[3]