Mary Wigman
Dancer
German pioneer of modern dance whose career led to the development of expressionist dance and dance therapy. Her style has said to have been highly existential and served as a catharsis for her internal struggles.
She opened her expressionist school of dance-- called both the Dresden Central School and the Mary Wigman-Schule-- in 1920.
She was an early advocate of dance training without pointe shoes, and she was also credited as one of the first dancer/choreographers to infuse her work with philosophical and existential themes.
She was born in Hanover, Germany, and she died in West Berlin.
She and American dancer/choreographer, Isadora Duncan, were both pioneers of modern dance.