FSU Dance - The Killinger Collection

The Killinger Collection

The Killinger Collection, a collection of costumes of Denishawn and Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers is now on display in Montgomery Hall.

The Denishawn school and dance company, founded by Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn in 1915

and active through 1931, was a significant factor in shaping American modern dance. The Denishawn dance school and the professional touring company affiliated with it was the first, and for many years the only, undertaking of its kind in this country. Denishawn is, to this day, widely referred to as “the cradle of American dance.”

Denishawn is famous for the beauty of its elaborate, exotic costumes, and an understanding of their designs is essential to an understanding of the significance of the work of Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn.

In the summer of 1983 Pam and Charles Killinger acquired approximately 400 articles of Denishawn costumes and memorabilia and donated the

collection to the Florida State University Department of Dance. The Killinger Collection, originally the property of Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn, was acquired at auction from the estate of the late John Christian of Eustis, Florida. Christian, a long-time associate of Shawn, had stored the collection in the Eustis studio, which had been Shawn’s winter home during the later years of his life.

In addition to the Killinger Collection, there are two other substantial collections of Denishawn and Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers costumes: one at Jacob’s Pillow, home of the Men Dancers’ company, and one at the University of California at Los

Angeles, Department of World Arts and Cultures.

A portion of the Killinger Collection will be on display in Montgomery Hall through December 19, 2007.

Portions of this exhibit courtesy of Professor Tricia Henry Young.