Mary Ruth Hammond

Mary Ruth, center, at 2013 Duncan Symposium. Photo credit Yi-Hsin Lin.

Mary Ruth studied creative modern dance as a child from Jean Miller, a student of Ruth St. Denis. Mary Ruth continued modern dance through her college years. She returned to dance in her late 50’s after being inspired by an Isadora Duncan dance performance in Berkeley, CA directed by Ann Cogley. She joined a weekly Duncan class co-taught by Ann Cogley and Christina Fessenden soon after. Currently, her Duncan teachers are Christina Fessenden and Christy Cornell-Pape. She has also attended a few workshops led by Lori Belilove. She thoroughly enjoyed three International Isadora Duncan Symposiums and currently serves on the Archive Committee. Mary Ruth was privileged to work with Mignon Garland's son, Victor Garlin to add Mignon's collection of writings, photos, programs and videos of the San Francisco Duncan Dancers to the Archive.