Stewart-Richardson, Lady Constance (1883–1932)
Stewart-Richardson, Lady Constance (1883–1932)
Scottish interpretive dancer. Born Lady Constance Mackenzie in 1883; died Nov 24, 1932, in London, England; dau. of Francis Leveson Gower, 2nd earl of Cromarty, and Lilian Janet Macdonald; m. Edward Stewart-Richardson, 15th baronet, April 19, 1904; m. Dennis Luckie Matthew, Aug 4, 1921; children: (1st m.) Ian Rorie Hay Stewart Richardson (b. 1904) and Torquil (1909–1961).
Under the spell of Isadora Duncan, began performing as an interpretive dancer (1909), and dedicated herself to trying to establish own Duncanesque school without success; appeared in annual London recitals where she danced in her own works (starting 1910), but the scandal of a woman of the nobility dancing in diaphanous gowns overwhelmed her choreographic reputation; performed at The Empire in London, where she presented Judith (1915) and The Wilderness (1915), among others; performed in US at Hammerstein theaters and on Keith circuit (1919); toured US with Gertrude Hoffmann, Mlle Polaire, and Evan Burrows-Fontaine, but had little success due to fading popularity of interpretive dance; retired and taught dance to factory workers in England; also fought for educational reforms.