Name/Title
Doris Humphrey's ShakersEntry/Object ID
5806Description
7 dancers on their knees in a circle bending/looking upwards with arms outstretched and palms to the sky.Context
Raised in Southern California, Barbara Morgan began her career as a photographer after moving to New York City in 1930. Her first book (which she is still best known for) is titled ‘Martha Graham: Sixteen Dances in Photographs’, a selection of photos taken of dancers from Martha Graham's dance company. In this photo, we see a group of dancers performing Doris Humphrey’s dance called ‘Shakers,’ originally titled ‘Dance of the Chosen.’ This performance art piece used drums, accordions, and rambling spoken words to depict the religious community of the Shakers. Humphrey was known for her modern choreography that focused on balance and a human’s center of gravity. You can watch a 1990 version of 'Shakers' here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neDvkow-gpMAcquisition
Accession
5000.98Source or Donor
Lawrence WalnerAcquisition Method
GiftCredit Line
Collection of DePaul University, Gift of Lawrence WalnerMade/Created
Notes
Creation Date: mid 20th century