Personal Opinion of Doris Humphrey

The relevance of Doris Humphrey, her contributions, and her ideologies cannot be understated. She once said that there is only one thing to dance about, the meaning on one’s experiences. These are wise words in and of their own, but they apply to everyone’s life regardless of the context. I believe that every person should try to find meaning within their existences, which is why her words resonate with me. Additionally, she was an innovator and left a legacy at her death, which lives on to today five and a half decades after her death. Everyone wonders whether their lives will be memorable, and this is testament that with skill, hard work, and a little luck, one needs not be forgotten when the grim reaper comes knocking.

At one point, Humphrey left Denishawn when she found herself in disagreement with the direction that school was taking. After leaving, she set up her school where she could go in the direction she felt suited her best. The decision speaks to the importance of being true to one’s self and the courage to follows one’s dreams. She must have been apprehensive about striking out on her own. She nonetheless broke free of the familiarity and comfort she had at Denishawn and went on to carve her path into the world. I find the move empowering and courageous that this legend chose to risk the possibility of failure and go her way to fulfill her desires. In today’s contemporary society, it is easy to let fear rule one’s way of living so much that people are willing to be unhappy simply for fear of the unknown.