Desha Delteil
Encyclopedia
Desha Delteil was an American dancer and artists' model.
She was born in Yugoslavia
and studied under Michel Fokine
, eventually becoming first dancer in his company. In 1920 she appeared in a solo short movie, "The Bubble," of a young girl dancing with a balloon, and was an uncredited cabaret dancer in the 1924 motion picture "Isn't Life Wonderful." A few years later, her "bubble dance" in the 1929 Hollywood musical
"Glorifying the American Girl" made her well known. In the 1930s she and Jean Myrio, another classically trained dancer, performed at number of nightclubs in Paris
and London
, and their dance interpretation of George Gershwin
's "Rhapsody in Blue
" at the Kit-Cat Club
was recorded in a Pathé
motion picture review.
In 1916, Desha was hired to pose for sculptor Harriet Whitney Frishmuth
and modeled for several of Frishmth's female bronzes
, one of which Frishmuth entitled Desha. She became Frishmuth's favorite model, posing not only for a number of her best pieces but also for her studio art classes. She is known to have posed for The Vine and Roses of Yesterday, and is presumed to have posed for The Hunt based on similarities of form and figure. http://www.p4a.com/itemsummary/95904.htm Delteil modeled for other artists as well, being highly valued for her ability to hold difficult poses for extended periods.
She was born in Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
and studied under Michel Fokine
Michel Fokine
Michel Fokine was a groundbreaking Russian choreographer and dancer.-Biography:...
, eventually becoming first dancer in his company. In 1920 she appeared in a solo short movie, "The Bubble," of a young girl dancing with a balloon, and was an uncredited cabaret dancer in the 1924 motion picture "Isn't Life Wonderful." A few years later, her "bubble dance" in the 1929 Hollywood musical
Musical film
The musical film is a film genre in which songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative, sometimes accompanied by dancing. The songs usually advance the plot or develop the film's characters, though in some cases they serve merely as breaks in the storyline, often as elaborate...
"Glorifying the American Girl" made her well known. In the 1930s she and Jean Myrio, another classically trained dancer, performed at number of nightclubs in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and their dance interpretation of George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
's "Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue
Rhapsody in Blue is a musical composition by George Gershwin for solo piano and jazz band written in 1924, which combines elements of classical music with jazz-influenced effects....
" at the Kit-Cat Club
Kit-Cat Club
The Kit-Cat Club was an early 18th century English club in London with strong political and literary associations, committed to the furtherance of Whig objectives, meeting at the Trumpet tavern in London, and at Water Oakley in the Berkshire countryside.The first meetings were held at a tavern in...
was recorded in a Pathé
Pathé
Pathé or Pathé Frères is the name of various French businesses founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France.-History:...
motion picture review.
In 1916, Desha was hired to pose for sculptor Harriet Whitney Frishmuth
Harriet Whitney Frishmuth
Harriet Whitney Frishmuth was an American sculptor known for her works in bronze.-Life:...
and modeled for several of Frishmth's female bronzes
Bronze sculpture
Bronze is the most popular metal for cast metal sculptures; a cast bronze sculpture is often called simply a "bronze".Common bronze alloys have the unusual and desirable property of expanding slightly just before they set, thus filling the finest details of a mold. Then, as the bronze cools, it...
, one of which Frishmuth entitled Desha. She became Frishmuth's favorite model, posing not only for a number of her best pieces but also for her studio art classes. She is known to have posed for The Vine and Roses of Yesterday, and is presumed to have posed for The Hunt based on similarities of form and figure. http://www.p4a.com/itemsummary/95904.htm Delteil modeled for other artists as well, being highly valued for her ability to hold difficult poses for extended periods.