Ruth St. Denis, an acclaimed dancer of the 1920s and 30s, combined theatrical and modern dance to visually tell stories. “Radha” was first performed in 1905 and is an early example of her dance solos. It depicts a Hindi goddess struggling between chastity and indulgence, and Ruth St. Denis uses props to represent the temptation of the five senses. She was often photographed in character, and the Scripps permanent collection has a substantial collection of her photographs, many taken by anonymous photographers. –Alex Trimm, Turk Intern 2011-2012

In pencil on verso: "Property of Scripps College Ph47."

Postcard with black and white photographic image.

Postcard of the thirties actress Ruth St. Denis, from the play "Radha." The dance of "Radha" began with St. Denis seated calmly, as in the picture. However, it soon developed into an overwhelming exploration of the five senses. With each new sensation "Radha" became increasingly excited, eventually falling into a state of delirium that prompted her to denounce the pleasures of the body in favor of the security of virtue.

This object has the following keywords:

• Actors and Actresses
• Photoreproductions

This object is a member of the following portfolios: