Just as Irene Castle, Isadora Duncan, and Loïe Fuller influenced the fashion and movement of the times, the influences of “natural dancing” and Delsarte began to make their way into higher education. Oberlin College, a small liberal arts school in Ohio, proved to be a pioneer in this regard. While some …
In 1892 Edward B. Warman published a book on the Delsarte Philosophy of Expression entitled Gestures and Attitudes. A practical as well as a theoretical compendium, this thick tome is a nineteenth-century precursor to the self-help books of today. In his introductory remarks on Delsarte’s philosophy, Warman explains: “The Delsarte …
Express Yourself! When Madonna released her 1989 hit single “Express Yourself,” little did she realize how directly her lyrics echoed themes expounded by American women at the end of the nineteenth century. Riding on the momentum produced by the twin forces of industrialization and urbanization (which included increased educational opportunities …
