Doris Humphrey (1895-1958) was one of the great figures in the development of modern dance - as a performer, teacher, choreographer, and theoretician. This account of her life and work not only tells the passionate story of an extraordinary woman, but is rich in dance history. It is based on Humphrey's own writings: statements prepared for dance journals, correspondence with family and friends, and the autobiography she did not live to complete. The personal account of her growing years, her decade of association with Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn, and her collaborations with Charles Weidman and Jose Limon are included. Here too is the truth of Doris Humphrey's private life: her relations with parents and associates; the tensions of marriage to a man who, as a ship's officer, was often far away; her efforts to be at once a good mother and a dedicated performing artist.