DANCEKendall Owens

&Jenna Newman

If I could tell you that, I wouldn’t have to dance it.”-Isadora Duncan

BALLET

Origins Started in Italy, France Originated in the Renaissance courts to provide entertainment for

the royalty.

Positioning and Movement Dancers maintain erect posture and a turned-out position

facing the audience. Movements followed the rhythm of the music Movements defied gravity and dancers seemed to soar

through the air ignoring the realities of life. Every movement had its “place” or was “set in stone Very structured and restricting movement.

BALLET

From Ballet Modern

* Multiple movements in art, literature, and theatre influenced the changes in dance.

* Major events and conditions of society such as the Great Depression and World War 1 and 2* during these times people used dance to

pass the time.* Dancers wanted more freedom and

independence and caused them to veer away from the technical aspects of dance.

The rise of modern dance

Originsم Modern was developed in rejection to balletم Flourished in areas that lacked strong ballet

such as Europe (where it originated)م 1930’s- the U.S was the center for “dance

experimentation”

Goalsم Dancers wished to be:

م more creativeم taken more seriously as an artist

not just a performerم Make dance more “personal” and

relatable

Add relationship to art to the presentation and leave space next to bullet

Modern dance characteristics

Movementsم Free movementم Movements used a multidimensional

orientation in spaceم Dancers stood sideways or turned their

backs to the audienceم Deliberate falling motionsم Take into account the weight of the body

Artist performance Relationshipم Personal م Sometimes told stories about real feelings such as

sorrow, rage, happiness, or excitementم Silence was used as an aesthetical experienceم 1 artist often acted as the choreographer and

performer

Modern dance characteristics

MARTHA GRAHAM“The Mother of Modern Dance”

Graham believed in internal movements. She used natural human movements (walking and breathing) and turned them into dance movements.

She was inspired by art, history, literature, and social commentary.

Techniques Focused on the use of contraction and release through

the natural exhaling and inhaling of breathing Added abdominal and pelvic contractions and floor

work to dance Very grounded movement in contrast to the airborne

movements of ballet Introduced moving scenery, the use of props and

sculptures as symbols, and the combination of speech and dance.

Used sharp angular movement Dressed in long, straight, dark dresses instead of the

traditional light, flowing chiffon costumes

MARTHA GRAHAM“The Mother of Modern Dance”

MARTHA GRAHAMWorks

“It’s not my job to look beautiful. It’s my job to look interesting.”

Her pieces were very dramatic. Her goal was to portray the more real feelings of life such as guilt, desire, and rage. She wished to reflect the true feelings felt in life rather than the gimmick feelings like always being happy.

MARTHA GRAHAMWorks

Chronicle (1936): This is one of Martha’s most defining work. It brought serious issues to the stage in a dramatic style. Influenced by the Wall Street Crash, the Great Depression, and the Spanish Civil War, it focused on the ideas of depression and isolation reflected through a dark nature of set and costumes.

Primitive Canticles influenced by American Indians.

Lamentation (1930) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgf3xgbKYko (show beginning then jump to dance)

Frontier (1976) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2Q6UJN0ef0 (2:25)

ISADORA DUNCAN

She found inspiration in music, poetry, and nature. Used the connection between her own thoughts and feelings with the

movements they can generate to portray a message. She felt that dance was a spiritual expression from your soul.

ISADORA DUNCAN

Techniques Uses Greek sculptures as a source of movement Created dances that alternated between resisting and

giving in to gravity She introduced the idea that movement comes from

your solar plexus and out from there. Dances barefoot

ISADORA DUNCANWorks

Dances inspired by the Russian Revolution and her most political works (1912-1925) Mother Revolutionary Marche Salv

Dances in response to World War 1 and dances of despair, lamentation, and renewal following the death of her children (1912-1920) Military Polonaise Marche Heroique

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ra19kIOFCo

Dances inspired by Greek Antiquity such as sculptures, vase paintings, and mythology (1900-1915) Dance of the Amazons Morning Star Tangra Orpheus’ Lament

ISADORA DUNCANWorks

Dances inspired by nature set as autobiographical dance poems to music (1900-1910) Water Study Lullabye Butterfly Etude

Dances inspired by passion and romance due to Isadora’s love life and art led her to create works that unleashed her torment and reassuring her womanhood (1908-1915) Rose Petals The Ave Maria Death and the Maiden

MERCE CUNNINGHAM

Introduced the idea of the relationship between dance and music may occur in the same time and space, but created independently of each other.

Used chance procedures, such as rolling a dice to determine what part of the body to use

Partnered with John Cage. Cage’s music was a framework for Cunningham’s movement to exist.

MERCE CUNNINGHAM

Techniques Rigorous movement Emphasis on acquiring strength, clarity

and precision Fused Graham techniques and

traditional ballet

Techniques Uses the idea of the body’s own “line of energy”

to promote easy natural movement. Intense movement from the spine, of the torso and

feet choreography was an expression of the nature of

change itself He wasn’t interested in telling stories, but used the

intensity and energy of the human body to create movement

MERCE CUNNINGHAM

In his works dancers often danced alone even in duets or ensembles, and music and design would act as environments to the dancers and audience.

MERCE CUNNINGHAM

Works Borst Park (1972), Inlets (1977), and Inlets 2

(1983)- inspired by wildlife Solo (1975)- also inspired by wildlife.

He seemed to transform from one animal to another.

Rainforest (1968)- inspired by anthropology The Coast zone- http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBcwL8ROBAk Second Hand-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=-FwiMlDQ7rI&feature=endscreen

Reactions to modern dance

The reactions to the shift in dance were mixed.

Against the change:→Preferred the classical ballet→Argued that it was not art→Dance should remain a performance based idea→Highlighted the body in a less than professional manner→Rebellious

Reactions to modern dance

For Modern:→Worthy of being classified as art→Creative qualities→Made personal connections→Includes the audience in the experience→More for the public view (not just royalty/rich)

Moderns Impact on Dance

ص Dance is now considered an art formص It has led to various styles of dance (lyrical, contemporary,

etc.)ص More emotional and personal/relatableص Takes into account the realities of life (gravity,

feelings/emotions, natural movements)ص Free/angular movementص No “classes”ص Dancers start at earlier ages