ABSTRACT
In 1934, without fanfare, an exquisitely choreographed quintet to Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Air” from his Third Orchestral Suite in D Major was filmed at the Paramount Studios in Long Island City, New York. The choreographer of the work, an emerging modern dancer named Doris Humphrey, was then at the beginning of her career, and though Air for the G String had already been performed by her ensemble, Humphrey herself had not previously danced the leading role. At a later date, however, fate decreed otherwise. The unexpected departure from her group of Sylvia Manning, who had created the central role, made it necessary for Humphrey to take her place. As a result, the film has earned historical renown as the sole record of Doris Humphrey’s personal appearance in a complete filming of one of her own works. Other existing films of Humphrey consist of excerpts of her dancing, with or without sound accompaniment.
