During the Easter holiday in 1921, the 17-year-old Ashton saw a performance of Isadora Duncan at Prince of Wales Theatre, London.
Duncan, 44, was in semi-transparent drapes and had badly dyed red hair, though the performance captivated Ashton, and he returned a few more times.
[1]: 44–45 [2] One of the dances is set to a Brahms Waltz, with her running forward while strewing rose petals with her hands.
I suppose she was rather blowsy about that time – I remember she had red hair – and the first impact gave me a bit of a shock, but that soon passed... She wasn't really the old camp that everyone makes her out now, she was very serious, and an immensely strong personality that came right across the footlights and held the audience and compelled them completely.
[2] The costume of the ballet included a red wig and transparent pink chiffon dress, similar to what Duncan wore.
[4] The expanded version, Five Brahms Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan, premiered on 15 June 1976, at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London, during Ballet Rambert's 50th anniversary gala.