Genevieve Stebbins


Genevieve Stebbins was an American author, teacher of her system of Harmonic Gymnastics, and performer of the Delsarte system of expression. She published four books and was the founder of the New York School of Expression.

Early years

Genevieve Stebbins was born on March 7, 1857 in San Francisco, California to James Cole Stebbins and Henrietta Smith. Her mother died when she was two years old. As a young child she always loved to dance and perform.

Career

Theatre

Stebbins first came to New York City from San Francisco to study for the stage, under a leading actress of Albert Marshman Palmer's Union Square Theatre. After a Winter's course of instruction, she made her debut on the stage as leading juvenile of Palmer's Company, in Rose Michel. The following year, she accepted an engagement under Dion Boucicault, and later, was playing the leading part in Our Boys at Daly's Theatre, when she met Steele MacKaye, the disciple and successor of François Delsarte, who persuaded her to retire from the stage and study the Delsarte System with him for two years, promising her the leading part in a play which he was writing at the time. Stebbins spent six months of this two years at the Boston University School of Oratory, as MacKaye's representative, giving the system of Delsarte to pupils and teachers in exchange for private and class lessons in elocution from Prof. Lewis Baxter Monroe, Dean of that school. Nearly every well-known graduate of that school was under her instruction, and to her many of them were indebted for their entire knowledge of the Delsarte System.
In May, 1879, Stebbins made her re-entrance on the stage as the leading lady of the Madison Square Theatre. The papers were unanimous in her praise. The following year, she accepted an engagement with Helena Modjeska's manager to play leading Shakespearian roles. In 1881, she went to Paris to study with François-Joseph Regnier, President of the Conservatoire and Societaire of the Theatre Francois. On her return to the United States in 1882, Stebbins read in public and accepted other theatrical engagements.

Harmonic Gymnastics

In 1885, Stebbins published her first book, The Delsarte System of Expression. Its immediate success decided her to become a lecturer and teacher. She became a special instructor in twenty-one New York schools, and recited and lectured in the principal cities and colleges of the United States. Feeling the need of a gymnastic system for girls that should have the charm of the dance and the physical value of the gymnasium, she elaborated a few Delsarte ideas combined with Ling aesthetic gymnastics and creative work of her own into a complete system of Harmonic Gymnastics. To perfect these gymnastic ideas, she made two more trips abroad, studied in the U.S. with Dr. George H. Taylor, author of a valuable system of medical gymnastics, and took a course in Swedish educational gymnastics, going to Harvard University in 1892 for that purpose. During her entire career she was interested in singing, and was the pupil of prominent masters, whose method she applied to training the speaking voice.
In 1893, she founded the New York School of Expression in the Carnegie Music Hall, Mr. Astley being the Business Manager. Her 1893 school brochure listed prior pupils including Felix Adler, of the Ethical Society; Dr. and Mrs. S. S. Curry, of the Boston School of Expression; Dr. C. W. Emerson, founder of the Emerson College of Oratory; Mary Currier, Professor of Elocution at Wellesley; Dr. Canfield, President of Columbus University, Ohio; Professor Hayes, of Harvard; Frank Stuart Parker, Georgie Cayvan, Mrs. James Brown Potter, Mrs. Pierpont Morgan, Mrs. Benjamin Church, Mrs. Vincenzo Botta, Mrs. Post, Miss Vanderbilt, Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Mrs. Alexander, Mrs. Richard McCurdy, and others; while classes were formed by the Seidl Society, the Musical Artists' Society, the Kindergarten Society, the Ethical Society and other clubs. Steele MacKaye wrote to her when she first launched forth as a teacher: "You are the only one of my pupils whom I can conscientiously recommend to teach what I teach myself"; while Regnier wrote: "You have the true artistic temperament, and I confidently prophesy for you the greatest success.£ Later F. Townsend Southwick joined forces with Stebbins in her school as the principal. She retired from the school in 1907.
Stebbins embodied her method in several books including, Delsarte System of Expression, Society Gymnastics and Voice Culture, Dynamic Breathing and Harmonic Gymnastics, Genevieve Stebbins' System of Physical Training. She completed a new edition of her first work, The Delsarte System of Expression, with a second part consisting of lectures and added instruction, illustrated by thirty-two pictures of statues.

Influence

Stebbins's work created more opportunities for late nineteenth-century American women to engage in physical culture and expression, especially in the realm of dance. She provided the means, rationale, and model for what could be accepted as the appropriate practices for middle and upper-class women. Her work in the Delsarte system facilitated the new "modern dance" which would develop in the United States and Europe in the twentieth century. It may also have contributed to the 20th century development of yoga as exercise.

Personal life

Stebbins was married to Joseph A. Thompson from 1888 until she divorced him in 1892. Thompson was most likely a relative of Mary Thompson so after the divorce, her partnership with Mary Thompson ended. Stebbins was remarried to Norman Astley, a journalist, in April 1892. There is no record of Stebbins having children from either marriage.
Genevieve Stebbins Astley died on September 21, 1934 in Monterey, California.

Selected works