Ted Shawn (October 2,1891–January 9,1972), was one of the first notable male pioneers of American modern dance. Along with creating Denishawn with former wife Ruth St. Denis, he was also responsible for the creation of the all-male company Ted Shawn and His Men Dancers and was the founder of Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Massachusetts. With his innovative ideas of masculine movement, Shawn was one of the most influential choreographers and dancers of his day. Notable performances choreographed by Shawn during Denishawn's 17-year period include Invocation to the Thunderbird (1917), Danse Americaine (1923) performed by Charles Weidman, and Xochitl (1920) performed by Martha Graham. In addition to spawning the careers of Weidman and Graham, the Denishawn school also housed Doris Humphrey as a student. In 1965, Shawn received a Heritage Award from the National Dance Association. Shawn's final appearance on stage in the Ted Shawn Theater at Jacob's Pillow was in Siddhas of the Upper Air, where he reunited with St. Denis for their fiftieth anniversary.