Isadora Duncan in the Theater of Love and War
Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas, Executive Director, Arts Mid-Hudson
A century after World War I reshaped lives and arts alike, a new dance-theater premiere in Woodstock shines a light on an overlooked chapter of American Modernism that unfolded right here in the Hudson Valley. On Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 7:00 PM, Jeanne Bresciani & The Isadora Duncan International Institute Dancers will debut Isadora Duncan in the Theater of Love and War at the Woodstock Playhouse, inviting audiences to rediscover the pioneering modern dancer’s time in the region and the legacy it inspired.
The production centers on the period when Isadora Duncan—revered as a mother of modern dance—sought refuge in the Hudson Valley during the turmoil of World War I. Drawn to the area’s landscape of rivers, ridges, and utopian experiments, Duncan and her adopted daughters, known as the Isadorables, continued their artistic practice from the creative haven of Byrdcliffe and the storied estates that line the Hudson River. The Hudson Valley, with its promise of renewal and its magnetic arts community, offered Duncan a sanctuary where resilience could take shape in movement.
Directed by Jeanne Bresciani, Artistic Director of the Isadora Duncan International Institute (IDII), the evening weaves historic reconstruction with original choreography to explore themes of exile, belonging, and the healing power of nature. A rare restaging of Duncan’s work to Beethoven’s Seventh Symphony, Allegretto, anchors the program, while new pieces by Bresciani unfold to music by Schubert, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and contemporary composers. The result is both a homage and a living dialogue—one that threads the past through the present, reflecting on how art sustains communities in the face of upheaval.
“Audiences leave with the sense that Isadora Duncan was an incredible force for wholeness in life—not for perfection,” Bresciani said. “Profoundly human, she lived in a constant state of becoming, inviting audiences to renew themselves, experience dance as never before, and bridge divides.”
The institute behind the production has deep roots and a broad reach. Founded in 1977 by Maria-Theresa Duncan—the last dancing Isadorable—and dance historian Kay Bardsley, IDII will mark its 50th anniversary in 2027. Bresciani, a foremost interpreter of Duncan’s legacy and a former Kress Fellow in the History of Art, has cultivated the region’s dance ecology for decades from Tempio di danza, the institute’s “motherhouse” in High Falls. From that base, IDII has premiered works locally and toured internationally, with performances at Lincoln Center, the British Museum, the Olympic Games, and across Europe, Asia, and South America. Closer to home, the institute regularly partners with venues that shape New York State’s cultural life, including Kaatsbaan, Skidmore College, Mills Mansion, Bearsville Theater, The Egg, Bardavon Opera House, and the Woodstock Playhouse.
Community is at the center of this premiere. In recognition of the production’s wartime themes and its tribute to resilience, IDII is offering limited free or pay-what-you-can tickets for military members and veterans. Adult tickets are $19, with $14 tickets for seniors and children under 12, available through the Woodstock Playhouse. The project is supported by the New York State Legislature and administered by Arts Mid-Hudson, with additional community sponsorships encouraged.
For audiences, the evening promises more than a performance; it offers an encounter with a formative moment in regional and artistic history. As dancers move through the language Duncan pioneered—barefoot, musical, and elemental—the Hudson Valley’s own role in that story comes into focus. In the Theater of Love and War is both remembrance and renewal, inviting residents and visitors alike to gather, reflect, and celebrate the enduring power of art to forge home in uncertain times.
If you go:
Isadora Duncan in the Theater of Love and War
Woodstock Playhouse, 4 Playhouse Lane, Woodstock, New York 12498
Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm
Contact: 845-679-6900
Email: info@woodstockplayhouse.org
www.woodstockplayhouse.org/isadoraduncaninternationalinstitute
