Ruth St. Denis

 Ruth St. Denis (January 20, 1879 – July 21, 1968) US dancer, teacher, and choreographer who is considered one of the pioneering influences in American modern dance.

staticflickr | answers | The New York Public Library. The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.| Denishawn Collection

Vintage Photo

Colored School at Anthoston. 1916 September 13,  Census 27, enrollment 12, attendance 7. Teacher expects 19 to be enrolled after work is over. "Tobacco keeps them out and they are short of hands."... Location: Henderson County, Kentucky, Hine, Lewis Wickes, 1874-1940,  photographer.

Source: flickr | Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington,D.C. 20540 USA

Rayfield McGhee

Rayfield McGhee in a zoot suit: Tallahassee, Florida c. 1920, One of the eleven children of Samantha and Ellis McGhee. He graduated from FAMU and taught in the Alachua County Public schools.

Source: flickr | dmetts2

Janet Collins

Janet Collins the first Black Prima ballerina at The Metropolitan Opera in her dressing room on the night of her debut, November 11, 1951. Ms. Collins, a cousin of Carmen De Lavallade, performed Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida” that night. She died in 2003 at the age of 86.

Janet Collins (March 7, 1917 - May 28, 2003), was a ballet dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She performed on Broadway, in films, and appeared frequently on television. She grew up in Los Angeles, California. She auditioned for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo when she was only 15. She was very talented, but she was not accepted because she was black. They told her she would have to dance in a white face. She said no thanks. She had a chance to dance at the 92nd Street YMHA in February 1948. In 1951 she became the first African American prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera in NY, NY.

Source: vintageblackglamour | google | freebase

Ruth St. Denis

Ruth St. Denis (January 20, 1879 – July 21, 1968) was a modern dance pioneer, introducing eastern ideas into the art. She was co-founder of the American Denishawn School of Dance and the teacher of several notable performers.

Source: flickr | google

George Owens

George Washington Owens, the first African American to graduate from Kansas State Agricultural, Owens as teacher, Virginia Normal and Industrial Institute, 1920 | vintage

Source: lib.k-state.edu