Nietzsche's Influence on Duncan's Speech "The Dance of the Future".

What is it about?

I look at the ways in which Isadora Duncan's speech "The Dance of the Future" draws on Nietzsche's "Zarathustra". I trace this influence in Duncan's language and themes. This research sheds light on the immediate afterlive of Nietzsche's work in dance, and also opens up a new reading of the importance of embodiment to Nietzsche's work.

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Why is it important?

Although Nietzsche's influence on Duncan is well documented, the extent to which this is the case for her early work is debated. This article shows that at least in the published version of her speech, Duncan drew on Nietzsche's work in themes and language.