Ruth St. Denis. Adelphi University is proud to present "Ruth St. Denis: In Search of a Goddess," an exhibition honoring the life and work of the distinguished dance legend and founder of the Adelphi University Dance Department, one of the first dance departments to be established at an American university. The exhibition, which commemorates the dancer's notable contributions to modern dance and to Adelphi University and celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Dance Department and opening of the new Performing Arts Center (AU PAC), will be on display in the Ruth S. Harley University Center Gallery, 1 South Avenue, Garden City, NY, from September 28 through October 20, 2008.

The exhibit will feature holdings from Adelphi University Archives and Special Collections, including a number of promotional flyers, posters, and pamphlets as well as signed copies of several limited edition books and a typed manuscript of St. Denis' autobiography An Unfinished Life with revisions and editor's comments in the margins. Also on display will be a number of unpublished choreographies and manuscripts as well as personal correspondences with former Adelphi University President Paul Dawson Eddy and his wife Isabel, with whom St. Denis shared a close friendship. The exhibit will also feature portraits of St. Denis by famous dance photographer Marcus Blechman and video recordings of several performances, which are brought to life by an adjacent display of original and recreated costumes from some of her most vibrant works including Egyptian Ballet, The Peacock, and Rhada. Costumes and jewelry on temporary loan from Jacob's Pillow and the Vanaver Caravan Dance Company complement Adelphi's collections.

St. Denis is one of the earliest innovators of modern dance, noted for her Asian-influenced style, theatrical characters, and elaborate costume and set design. The renowned Denishawn School and Dance Company, founded by St. Denis and her husband, famed performer Ted Shawn, delivered sold out performances around the world, including an unprecedented four nights at Carnegie Hall in 1927, and produced numerous talented dancers, among them the eminent Martha Graham. Since its inception, the Adelphi Dance Department has hosted many esteemed dancers and educators, including Hanya Holm, Juana de Labon, Norman Walker, Carmen de Lavallade, and Paul Taylor.

An exhibit reception will be held on Saturday, October 18 at 7:00 p.m. as part of a ticketed event, the Adelphi Dance Gala. Also titled "Ruth St. Denis: In Search of a Goddess," this season's production conceived and written by Fran Kirmser, with choreography inspired by St. Denis, features choreography and performances by critically acclaimed choreographer and dancer Dalia Carella together with Adelphi student dancers and direction by Jon Cantor.

The University Center Gallery is open Monday through Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. For more information, please visit http://events.adelphi.edu/culturalevents/art.php, or contact Richard Vaux, director of exhibitions, at (516) 877-4462 or galleryexhibitions@adelphi.edu. For more information or for tickets to the 70th anniversary Dance Department gala events, please visit http://aupac.adelphi.edu/ or contact the AU PAC Box Office at (516) 877-4000. All proceeds from the gala will benefit student performing arts (music, theatre, and dance) scholarships.