1st Edition

A Revolutionary Dancer in Revolutionary Russia Isadora Duncan in Russian and Soviet Culture

By Elena Yushkova Copyright 2026
318 Pages
by Central European University Press

In 1921, the legendary American dancer Isadora Duncan arrived in post-revolutionary Russia with an audacious goal: to build a new kind of dance school for a new world. Already celebrated for her groundbreaking performances across the Russian Empire from 1904 to 1913, Duncan had become an influential figure in the cultural life of the Silver Age, inspiring artists, writers, and thinkers alike.... Read more

List of Illustrations

Foreword by Blair A. Ruble

Introduction

Chapter 1. Isadora and Russian Pre-Revolutionary Culture

Chapter 2. Isadora’s Perception after the Revolution

Chapter 3. Moscow School

Chapter 4. Russian Revolutionary Songs in Isadora Duncan’s Repertoire

Chapter 5. Isadora and the Russian Men after Esenin

Conclusion and Acknowledgements

Appendix

Chronology of Duncan’s Performances in Russia

Name Index

Subject Index

 

Biography

Elena Yushkova has studied Isadora Duncan's legacy for many years. She is the author of two Russian language books, including the first monograph on Duncan published in Russia, as well as numerous articles in academic journals and edited volumes. She is currently a Visiting Scholar at the University of Kentucky.