The natural, free flowing, graceful movements of legendary dancer Isadora Duncan will come to Westport next month.
Isaadora Duncan: often called the “Mother of Modern Dance.” File photo
Robert and Victoria “Vicky” Sloat are set to open their 4 Bluewater Hill South home near Compo Beach for a night of dance presentations and awards.
The event, set for Sunday, Sept. 11, at 5 p.m. will benefit the New York-based Isadora Duncan International Institute (IDII), which is entering its 40th season.
Vicky Sloat is a disciple of Duncan, an American dancer whose teaching and performances helped free ballet from its conservative restrictions and presaged the development of modern expressive dance. She died in 1927.
Dancing barefoot and clad in sheaths inspired by Greek imagery and Italian Renaissance paintings, Duncan is often called the “Mother of Modern Dance” — a moniker also shared by a successor of sorts, Martha Graham.
The benefit pays homage to IDII founders Maria-Theresa Duncan and Kay Bardsle, as well as Jeanne Bresciani, who for 30 years has served as IDII’s artistic director and director of education.
“We extend a warm welcome for all to experience Isadora’s unique art of the dance,” said Sloat, who studied under Bresciani.
Sloat runs “Isadora’s Children” dance classes and summer art and dance program for children and “Terpsichore’s Garden” program for teens at her Westport home.
The Staples High School, Bennington College, and Columbia University graduate began dancing 18 years ago.
“When I saw my teacher dance for the first time, I thought that I’d never seen any dancing so beautiful, so satisfying,” said Sloat.
“Now I realize what I was seeing was the soul moving through Isadora’s work. The art of the dance as we know it today owes her homage. Her work is the root system for teaching creative movement classes and dance therapies all over the world.”
An announcement said the evening will include masterworks from Duncan’s original dances; contemporary works in solo, duet, and group performance in the Duncan oeuvre; and large scale movement choirs.
Selections will include works that have received international praise, such as the “New Artemision,” a work that “exemplifies the far reaching aesthetic and educational goals that enliven the whole person – body and soul, mind, heart and spirit – with the core values of beauty, strength and freedom that are inherent in Isadora’s ‘school of life,” according to the IDII announcement.
Costs for the benefit are: $75 for guest, $150 for moonlight benefactor, and $300 for starlight patron.
Tickets are available for prior purchase via Eventbrite (http://tinyurl.com/zoz8cu5) up until Saturday, Sept. 10.
