Ian Handford: Free spirit was destined to become a dancing star

Isadora Duncan was virtually destined to re-establish an historic Greek dance. Born  in America in 1878 one of four children, she entered the world from Dora's reluctant womb with her mother screaming “you see, I was right - the child is a maniac” and throughout life Isadora 's world was to prove difficult.

Her unhappiness started when a chid as her father Joseph (a Banker) came home to announce he had lost all the families money by bad investment and weeks later then announced he was leaving, he had lost his heart to another. Now Dora with four young children to bring up and no money would have to work long hours She had always known her husband was a dreamer and now found Isadora had the same flaw. Yet no-one could know Isadora was already dreaming of her creative urge to dance and to appear alone on the world stage. She would re-invent an ancient two thousand year old Greek dance, backfoot using veils.

During her teens the of style of dance would mirror the ebb and flow of oceans while her dream to dance alone on stage and meet a millionaire - would both became fact. No-one had ever wished to meet Joseph again though by accident Isadora came across him on a station and liking him and his poetry she discovered he had a second family and was living in Los Angeles.

Meanwhile during the 1880's Dora taught her children to read music, play the piano and amuse themselves as she was always working. Isadora was quite tall and in arranging her hair high, made her more adult. In her teens she formally announced “I shall never marry” and for decades that promise was kept. The children were encouraged to enjoy the finer things of life when Dora played the works of Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart, Schubert and Schumann and even had time to recite the works of Burns, Shakespeare, Shelley and Keats.

When Isadora met Ina Coolbrith, California’s most inspirational teacher and Poet Laureate, Ina soon spotted Isadora's talents and dreams including the free flowing spirit of wishing to dance alone. Later she would captivate audiences of the world and although being fifty years ahead of her time Isadora did meet a fellow dreamer, theatrical producer Augustin Daly and he allowed her to dance alone while becoming a first lover.

He even cast her as one of Titania’s dancing fairies in Midsummer Nights Dream and when her career was assured in New York by 1899 her star was in the ascendance. The dancing was unlike anything ever seen before, barefoot, using many silken veils and scarves she made dancing seductive and provocative.

She actually renewed an ancient form of dance and when brought to London it even attracted Royalty in the form of the Prince of Wales. Titterton the leading British critic wrote “A new idea comes into the world once in a century and today I was fortunately witness to one reborn”. Her future was assured as everyone found the new dances of Isadora  - exciting, unique and sensual.