Dance

Cece Shmyr, Kelsey Bunyak, Amanda Temple

Classical Ballet

Classical Ballet

• Created in Italy during Renaissance period (1500s)

• Characteristics:– Structured positions and steps– Tells a story– Different styles– Classical music

Negative Aspects

• Eating disorders=very common“the only way to succeed is to be thin”

• Competitive– Very large industry– Only few make it to be very widely successful–More successful if independent

• Low pay– Doesn’t even out to the amount of work put in

Classical Ballet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MUi4w0QnR0

Modern Dance

Modern Dance

•Refers to 20th century concert dance•Centers on a dancer's own interpretations instead of structured steps•Encourages dancers to use emotions and moods to design their own steps and routines•Focused on elements such as floor work, fall and recovery, and improvisation

Isadora Duncan

Isadora Duncan

• “Mother of modern dance”• Started dancing at 6 years old• Was taught to “listen to the

music with her soul” from her mother

• Her mother instilled Isadora’s love for the arts

• Dance took a priority over formal education

Isadora’s Dance Technique

• Did not believe in the formality of conventional ballet

• Invented a more “free” form of dance• Barefoot dance in simple Greek apparel• Founded the “new system” of interpretive

dance• Blended together poetry, music, and the

rhythm of nature

“The dancer of the future will be one whole

body and soul grown so harmoniously together

that the natural language of that soul will have

become the movement of the human body. The

dancer will not belong to any nation but to all

humanity.” –Isadora Duncan

Isadora Duncan

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq2GgIMM060

Martha Graham

Martha Graham

• Born in Pennsylvania• Influenced by father

– Specialized in physical movements to remedy nervous disorders

– Believed body could express inner senses

• Illustrated visions through jarring, violent, spastic & trembling movements

• Compared to Picasso, Stravinsky, and Frank Lloyd Wrights

“Frontier” 1976

• Use of the floor as a plane for expressive movement

• Use of costume to evoke a setting, to imply a character

• Exploration of national identity through the eyes of archetypal characters from history

Appalachian Spring- 1944

• http://youtu.be/xgf3xgbKYko

– Demonstrates the emotional part of Martha’s work– “There is always one person who you truly peak to

in the audience”

Merce Cunningham

• Began study at age 12• Born in Centralia Washington• attended Martha Graham’s dance

company• Influenced by partner- John Cage• Intrigued by random phenomena as

determinants of structure• Dances vary greatly in mood but

are frequently characterized by abrupt changes and contrast in movement

Merce Cunningham

• Neighbor Maude Barrett introduced dance to Merce• Expanded the frontiers of dance• Attended Cornish School of Fine and Applied Arts- 2 years• Studied at Mills College• Joined Martha’s company (left 1945)• Worked with John Cage- life partner (1940’s)– Extensive use of chance procedures, abandoned music

forms and narrative & other conventional elements of dance

• Opened Merce Cunningham Dance company (1953)• Invented dance on film (1970’s)• John died in (1992)

Merce Cunningham Achievements

• National Medal of Arts (1990)• Explored motion capture technology • Japan’s Premium Imperiale (2005)• Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award (2009)• Named Officer of the Legion d’Honneur

(2004)

Alvin Ailey

• African American modern dance

• Made use of any combination of dance techniques that best suited the theatrical moment

• Kept his life as a dancer a secret from his mother for the first two years

Alvin Ailey

• Founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in NYC

• Credited with popularizing modern dance• Revolutionized African-American

participation in modern dancing• His company gained the nickname "Cultural

Ambassador to the World”

Alvin Ailey

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=vu9dQcefHSc

– Different types of movement–More intense movements

Todays Most Popular Choreographers

Mia Michaels

Lisa Giobbi

Victor Smalley

Sonya Tayeh

Mia Michaels

–3 Emmy Nominations – I Emmy–Most sought our choreographer worldwide

Mia Michaels

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38XIFZLlIiM&list=PLD240B800296D85DA

*Considered one of her top 10 choreographed dances

Sonya Tayeh

• Born and raised in Detroit Michigan

• American dancer and choreographer

• guest judge on the television series So You Think You Can Dance since season four

Sonya Tayeh

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2YrkpxGWKg

Costume Changes

• Costumes have become much simpler

A Revolution in Movement

Traditional Ballet Modern Ballet

Key Differences (between ballet and modern dance)• Modern dance doesn’t usually tell a story

• Ballet was created for aesthetic appeal

• Modern dance was created for emotional appeal

• Ballet costumes are more extravagant and elaborate