* She wasn't planning on becoming a dancer. In fact, she initially studied English and History at the University of Chicago.
* Her interest in dance came about through her sister, who took classes from Ruth St. Denis (a pioneer of American modern dance).
* Humphrey was intrigued by the classes and started taking them herself. She found herself drawn to the expressive and emotional nature of modern dance, which differed greatly from the more formal and rigid ballet of the time.
So, it wasn't a planned career path, but rather a serendipitous discovery that led Doris Humphrey to become one of the most influential figures in American modern dance.