An audience of members and guests was wowed at the January l8th meeting of the Orinda-Moraga-Lafayette (OML) Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Dancer Lois Flood did a reprise of the dancing of Isadora Duncan, who is conceded to be the most famous dancer of the 20th century in the aesthetics of modern dance and who impacted the world of dance like no other while making a great impression on many of the famous artists of her time.
In her interpretive dancing Lois Flood combined Duncan`s lyrical, dramatic and heroic dances with poetry narrated by Karen Elise. Flood wore costumes reminiscent of the classical Greek style, typical of Duncan`s performances, which were flowing and sensuous without being overtly sexual - a point Flood made in her comments to convey the philosophy that Duncan extolled. In describing the origins of her philosophy Duncan was quoted as stating that art and music are as necessary to people as the air or bread because art is the spiritual bread of mankind.
The dancing, the poetry and the music each contributed to produce a powerful stimulus to heighten the sheer beauty of the performance, to the delighted and appreciative audience.
For more information about the OML Branch of AAUW go to www.aauwoml.org or call Judy Hammon at (925) 253-4972.