Trivia

Duncan's life was riddled with tragedy. In 1913, at the height of her fame, her two young children died when their driverless car rolled into the Seine River in Paris. A later baby was stillborn. When Duncan did at last wed, the marriage was short-lived and ended in separation, whereupon her husband killed himself. Isadora herself died in a freak auto accident only two years later. Fond of wearing long, flowing scarves, Duncan died when one accidentally entangled in the rear wheel of a Bugatti convertible, throwing her forcibly from the vehicle and strangling her.

After her own children died, Duncan adopted six of her international dance students who migrated to the U.S. and took her last name.

Recognized as the mother of the modern dance movement.

An early feminist, Duncan didn't believe in marriage and she bore two children out of wedlock by two different men (a daughter named Deirdre with lover Gordon Craig, and a son with Paris Singer).

Mary Desti, one of her closest friends, was the mother of famed writer and director Preston Sturges. Sturges grew up traveling Europe with them both.

Pictured on one of a set of 4 USA 'forever' commemorative postage stamps featuring Innovative Choreographers, issued 28 July 2012. Others honored in this issue were José Limon, Katherine Dunham, and Bob Fosse. Price on day of issue was 45¢.

Described by Elsa Lanchester as an "untalented bag of beans" - On the Dick Cavett Show," 11 August 1970. Lanchester said that as a child of socialists and a suffragette she rebelled against the practice of students kissing Isadora Duncan's hand.

Sister of actor Raymond Duncan.

Resided at the Hotel Des Artistes, 1 West 67th Street, in Manhattan, New York.

In an interview on the Dick Cavett show, Elsa Lanchester lauded Vanessa Redgrave's depiction of Isadora Duncan, but referred to Isadora as an "untalented bag of bones".

Of Duncan's dancing, George Balanchine said "To me it was absolutely unbelievable-a drunken, fat woman who for hours was rolling around like a pig.".