Ted Shawn and Ruth St. Denis | Pilates History Research

Ruth St. Denis

Ruth St. Denis was an American dancer and choreographer, and one of the founders of modern dance. She was also married to Ted Shawn for a period of time, and was one of Joseph Pilates clients. Image first shared on 3/31/21.

Also View: Joe’s Clients

Ruth St. Denis loveliest woman archive article

Through research, we found this original typed letter from Ruth St. Denis to Joseph Pilates, mentioning an article that was written about her that included a “sketch” of Ruth doing a pilates exercise backstage at one of her performances.

With even more research we were able to actually find that article! It reveals that the “sketched” exercise she did was the Roll Over! Interestingly, it appears that she demonstrated it with arms out to the sides. Images first shared on 11/24/2023.

Pilates History Archive- Ruth St. Denis Original Letter
Pilates History Archive- Article - Ruth St. Denis "Dancer Tells Secret of Keeping Young."
Ted Shawn wunda chair exercise

Images first shared on 2/2/2023.

A Pilates Source® Exclusive!

“… my favorite piece of all your inventions. Assuming that one cannot always come to your studio, and work on all of the many inventions you have created to help humanity return to Life… the chair seems to me the most usable. It is light enough, to begin with, to move around easily by one person… Your set of exercises for chair are so complete that every muscle of the body is toned up equally all over, and the varied exercises are also void of monotony (such as, for instance, the floor exercises sometimes seem just drudgery to me)… This necessity to keep one’s mind alert, and the constantly changing positions hold one’s interest and this, in itself, is a valuable part of daily exercising- to enjoy it. And it takes up so little room, anyone could use it even in a small hotel room.”

-Ted Shawn

We are thrilled to share these archival pilates research images of Ted Shawn using a Wunda Chair, Arm Chair, Massage Table, Standing Arm Springs, and Spine Corrector- some of which were taken at Jacob’s Pillow. Brought to you by The Pilates Source® and Pilates Historics™.

Ted Shawn pilates barrel archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates equipment archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates equipment archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
Ted Shawn pilates wunda chair archive photo
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