(born Oct. 21, 1891, Kansas City, Mo., U.S.—died Jan. 9, 1972, Orlando, Fla.) U.S. modern dancer, teacher, and choreographer. He married
Denis, Ruth">Ruth St. Denis in 1914, soon after beginning his dance career. In 1915 they cofounded the Denishawn school and company to promote nonballetic dance movement; their tours brought modern dance to many parts of the U.S. for the first time. After the couple separated in 1931, the company disbanded, and Shawn established a company of male dancers for which he choreographed works that embodied a vigorous, masculine style. In 1933 he founded the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Becket, Mass., as a summer residence and theatre for his dancers. He continued to dance and choreograph into the 1960s.
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![Shawn in <i>Frohsinn</i> [Credit: Pictorial Parade]](http://images.bookrags.com/images/eb/26300.gif)
