Ruth St. Denis was born January 27th, 1879, in Newark, New Jersey. One of the first internationally known modern dancers, Ruth St. Denis was first inspired by modern dance when she saw the Egyptian goddess Isis on a cigarette poster in 1904. She met Ted Shawn in 1911 at a performance, and they soon became artistic partners and spouses afterward. Together, they created the Denishawn School of Modern Dance in Los Angeles, California, in 1914. Ted Shawn and Ruth St. Denis separated in 1930, but remained good friends. The Denishawn School was also disbanded in 1930. In 1931, St. Denis formed the Society of Spiritual Arts to spread religious worship and mysticism through dance. Ruth St. Denis later also founded the Church of Divine Dance in Hollywood, California, where masses and rituals relating dance to religion took place. She remained active in the dance and religious spheres until her death at the age of 89. Ruth St. Denis passed away July 21st, 1968, in Hollywood, California.

Ted Shawn, born October 21, 1891, was a male pioneer for American modern dance. In addition to creating the Denishawn School of Modern Dance, he formed an all male company call Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers. Through this company, Shawn intended to bring awareness to dance from a male perspective. Ted's all male company led to the creation of the Jacob's Pillow: a dance school, retreat, and theater. Jacob's Pillow ultimately became an internationally acclaimed annual dance festival. Ted Shawn taught at Jacob's pillow up until his death in 1972.