Hands (Década de 1940) by Maria and Hebert DuschenesPortal MUD - Dance Museum
Maria Duschenes posing for Herbert Duschenes (Década de 1940) by Hebert DuschenesPortal MUD - Dance Museum
The History in Dance
Experiences with master teachers and pioneering partnerships in world modern dance.
The Beginning of Everything
Born on August 26, 1922, in Budapest, Hungary, Maria Duschenes began her dance training at the age of 11 at Olga Szentpál's school (1895 - 1968), a pioneer of Hungarian modern dance.
Frame from "Dance by Maria Duschenes"Portal MUD - Dance Museum
At 15, Duschenes studied classical dance with Aurel von Millos (1906-1988), assistant choreographer at the National Theater of Budapest. Later, she went to England to study at the Jooss-Leeder School of Dance, in Dartington Hall.
This experience allowed Duschenes to come into contact with major figures in dance, such as Kurt Jooss (1901 - 1979) and Sigurd Leeder (1902 - 1981).
Frame from "Dance by Maria Duschenes"Portal MUD - Dance Museum
As a result of the bombings at the beginning of World War II (1939 - 1945), the Jooss-Leeder School of Dance was closed, and in 1940, Duschenes left for Brazil with a bold education in her luggage.
Dance by Maria Duschenes (Década de 1940) by Maria and Hebert DuschenesPortal MUD - Dance Museum
Maria Duschenes upon arrival in Brazil (Década de 1940) by Hebert DuschenesPortal MUD - Dance Museum
Duschenes arrives in Brazil
In 1940, she arrives in São Paulo, where her parents had already settled - fleeing the bombings in Europe during World War II.
Frame from 'An Interpretation through Dance and Photography by Maria and Herbert'Portal MUD - Dance Museum
In São Paulo, Duschenes came into contact with modern dance from other exponents like Chinita Ullmann (1904-1977), Kitty Bodenheim (1912-2003), Vaslav Veltchek (1897-1967), Maria Olenewa (1896-1965), Yanka Rudzka (1916-2008), Renée Gumiel (1913-2006), and Ruth Rachou (1927-2022)
A Partnership in Life
Married at the age of 20 to her great life and art partner, Herbert Duschenes (1914 - 2003), with whom she shared stage productions.
Frame from 'An Interpretation through Dance and Photography by Maria and Herbert'Portal MUD - Dance Museum
At the age of 22, Duschenes contracted polio, and thanks to the body awareness teachings acquired at Dartington Hall, she overcame the worst effects of the disease and never stopped working in the field of dance.
An Interpretation Through Dance and Photography by Maria and Herbert (1949) by Maria and Hebert DuschenesPortal MUD - Dance Museum
Enriching her knowledge further, she studied with the master Lisa Ullmann (1907-1985), Laban's partner, and with Doris Humphrey (1895-1958), Martha Graham (1894-1991), José Limon (1908-1972), and Merce Cunningham (1919-2009).
Laban Course with Lisa Ullmann (1978) by Lisa UllmmanPortal MUD - Dance Museum
Maria Duschenes in her dance studio in the Sumaré neighborhood. by K.K. AlcovérPortal MUD - Dance Museum
Duschenes made history
Her contribution to the dance scene is immeasurable
Laban class for adults with Maria Duschenes (1977) by Maria DuschenesPortal MUD - Dance Museum
The bridge to modern methods
Maria Duschenes was responsible for bringing Laban's Movement Theory and the Dalcroze Eurhythmics method to Brazil.
Children's Day celebration with students from the Dance/Art of Movement Pilot Project, part of the Department of Children and Youth Libraries Children's Day celebration with students from the Dance/Art of Movement Pilot Project, part of the Department of Children and Youth Libraries (1983) by Marcos RosaPortal MUD - Dance Museum
As an educator, she valued each student's movement repertoire in an environment conducive to creativity and new exploration.
Course on Body Expression by Maria Duschenes (1974-11-26) by Maria DuschenesPortal MUD - Dance Museum
Closing party of the Dance Activities Project at Children and Youth Libraries. (1985) by Unidentified photographerPortal MUD - Dance Museum
Dance/Art of Movement
The project that facilitated access to dance for children in the city of São Paulo.
Introduced educational dance in public children's libraries and other spaces through the "Dance/Art of Movement" project, for children and public employees, supported for ten years (1984 - 1994) by the Municipal Secretariat of Culture (SMC) of São Paulo.
The Project
It had a proposal aimed at preschool and elementary school children (corresponding to the current Early Childhood Education and Elementary School I segments, respectively).
Under Duschenes's coordination and supervision, the project was carried out by teachers Regina Machado, Renata Neves, Daraína Pregnolatto (Tuca), Maria Cecília Pereira Lacava (Cilô), Solange Arruda, and Solange Garbaz.
It was based on Duschenes's research on the movement repertoire of Brazilians, using the concepts of Rudolf Laban (1879-1958).
Renata Macedo teaching children from the Dance/Art of Movement project, part of the Department of Children and Youth Libraries. (1984) by Unknown authorPortal MUD - Dance Museum
The classes were based on themes from books chosen by the children and movement themes appropriate for different age groups. In a playful manner, they focused on body awareness, motor skills, mastery of movement quality, among other principles.
The adaptation of the "Dance/Art of Movement Project" for schools and the theoretical foundation developed by Duschenes and her team provided the basis for the defense of the "Lobo Law" during its passage through the Chamber of Deputies.
Dance class with teacher Renata Macedo and children from the Dance/Art of Movement project, part of the Department of Children and Youth Libraries. (1986) by Unknown authorPortal MUD - Dance Museum
D. Maria's educational dance remained in libraries until 1994. Over those ten years, it reached a large universe of children and adults (parents and public employees) who frequented the municipal libraries throughout the city.
Rehearsal for Coral Dance Oringens I. Rehearsal for Coral Dance Oringens I. (1990) by Unidentified photographerPortal MUD - Dance Museum
Occupying spaces with dance
Coral Dance, the exchange of experiences and research on human movement
Coral Dance Origins I by Maria Duschenes (1990) by Maria DuschenesPortal MUD - Dance Museum
Coral Dance Origins II (1991) by K.K. Alcover.Portal MUD - Dance Museum
The Coral Dance
With the aim of disseminating and deepening Laban studies in Brazil, Duschenes gathered dancers in collective dances. This practice aims to spread dance as a language capable of building spaces of collectivity and community collaboration.
With these dances, Duschenes occupied unusual places such as churches, squares, parking lots, parks, and others.
She conducted choral dances with large groups of children and adults with the participation of the teacher groups trained by her, culminating in harmonious collective events of singular beauty.
Coral Dance Origins II (1991) by Maria DuschenesPortal MUD - Dance Museum
Maria Duschenes and Renata Macedo (1994) by Sossô ParmaPortal MUD - Dance Museum
The seed was planted
Maria Duschenes's legacy is like the sea: endless and always in motion.
The legacy left by the dancer, choreographer, and educator Maria Duschenes influenced generations of dancers, choreographers, teachers, psychologists, therapists, educators, actors, visual artists, musicians, among others.
Testimony of Silvia Duschenes Nader about Maria Duschenes (2015-11)Portal MUD - Dance Museum
Creator of her own methodology, Maria Duschenes believed that anyone could reach an expressive body through the Art of Movement.
Testimony of Ronaldo Duschenes about Maria Duschenes (2015-11)Portal MUD - Dance Museum
As an educator and researcher of human movement, Ms. Maria generously lent her gaze to each student's movement repertoire, paving the way for them to choose their own way of dancing.
Testimony of Cilô Lacava about Maria Duschenes (2016)Portal MUD - Dance Museum
All her former students continue in some way with D. Maria's work, allowing her principles to remain alive.
Testimony of J. C. Violla about Maria Duschenes (2016)Portal MUD - Dance Museum
In addition to the support of her husband Herbert Duschenes (1914-2003), children, and grandchildren, Ms. Maria always had Maria Luiza dos Santos Marques by her side, who served as housekeeper, cook, and her main caregiver until the final moments of her life.
Maria Duschenes (1994) by Sossô ParmaPortal MUD - Dance Museum
Maria Duschenes passed away on July 5, 2014, at her home in Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil.
Maria Duschenes Movement Improvisation Group (2015)Portal MUD - Dance Museum
Learn more about Maria Duschenes' movement
Access testimonials from other artists and materials from Maria Duschenes' collection on the MUD Portal's YouTube channel.
Conception, curation, and production: Portal MUD - Dance Museum and Maria Mommensohn
Research and texts: Simone Alcântara
Interns: Isadora Dieb (cataloging) and Tatyana Carla (cataloging), Taciana Vaz (text revision)
Video recording and editing: Rafael Petri
Photos: Herbert Duschenes, K. K. Alcovér, Marinez Maravalhas, Normet Piola, Sérgio Sandler, and Sossô Parma
Assistance in identifying videos and photos: Acácio Vallim Jr., Analivia Cordeiro, Cybele Cavalcanti, Cilô Lacava, Patricia Noronha, Renata Macedo, Silvia Duschenes, and Solange Arruda.
History Production on Google Arts & Culture: Rúbia Galera
This exhibition was produced based on the "Maria Duschenes: Expression and Freedom" exhibition available on the Portal MUD and was carried out upon Maria Mommensohn's invitation to be part of the "Vescica Piscis" project, funded by the 18th Dance Promotion Grant from the city of São Paulo.
