Modern Dance PioneersModern Dance Pioneers

A brief history of modern danceA brief history of modern dance

The creation of an art formThe creation of an art form

Why was Modern Dance Why was Modern Dance Different?Different?

Rebelled against the rigid constraints of Rebelled against the rigid constraints of Classical BalletClassical Ballet

Focused on creative self-expression rather Focused on creative self-expression rather than on technical virtuosity than on technical virtuosity

Modern dance is only approximately 100 Modern dance is only approximately 100 years old (started around the turn of the 20years old (started around the turn of the 20thth century)century)

Modern dance is often performed in bare feetModern dance is often performed in bare feet Modern dance often utilizes floor work Modern dance often utilizes floor work Modern dancers saw dance as a potential Modern dancers saw dance as a potential

agent of change agent of change

Loie FullerLoie Fuller Burlesque skirt dancer Burlesque skirt dancer Experimented with effects gas lighting had Experimented with effects gas lighting had

on her silk costumeson her silk costumes Natural movement and improvisation Natural movement and improvisation

techniques techniques Revolutionary lighting equipment and Revolutionary lighting equipment and

translucent silk costumes translucent silk costumes She patented her apparatus and methods of She patented her apparatus and methods of

stage lighting that included: stage lighting that included: 1. colored gels 1. colored gels 2. burning chemicals for luminescence 2. burning chemicals for luminescence 3. her voluminous silk stage costumes 3. her voluminous silk stage costumes

Isadora DuncanIsadora Duncan http://http://

video.google.com/video.google.com/videosearch?videosearch?q=isadora+duncan&eq=isadora+duncan&emb=0&aq=0&oq=Isadmb=0&aq=0&oq=Isadora#ora#

Stressed improvisation, Stressed improvisation, emotion, and the emotion, and the human form human form

Inspired by the Inspired by the classics, especially classics, especially Greek mythologyGreek mythology

Thought that classical Thought that classical ballet was "ugly and ballet was "ugly and against nature" against nature"

Believed in the Believed in the creation of beauty and creation of beauty and the education of the the education of the young young

Founded three schoolsFounded three schools

A New Dance SchoolA New Dance School

Ruth St. Dennis and her husband, Ted Ruth St. Dennis and her husband, Ted Shawn, opened the Denishawn SchoolShawn, opened the Denishawn School

School was built on free dance of School was built on free dance of exoticism and mysticism exoticism and mysticism

Designed to teach students in their own Designed to teach students in their own stylestyle

Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey were Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey were pupils therepupils there

Out of the Denishawn school came a new Out of the Denishawn school came a new generation of dancers in the 1920sgeneration of dancers in the 1920s

Modern dance as a dance technique was Modern dance as a dance technique was given its form at this timegiven its form at this time

Martha GrahamMartha Graham Dance technique based Dance technique based

on the physical on the physical manifestations of manifestations of emotion emotion

Principles of contraction Principles of contraction and releaseand release

Brought serious issues Brought serious issues to the stageto the stage

Created her own Created her own company, which endures company, which endures todaytoday

http://http://marthagraham.org/marthagraham.org/center/center/

Doris HumphreyDoris Humphrey Sought a deeper Sought a deeper

understanding of understanding of movement possibilities movement possibilities

Universal expressivenessUniversal expressiveness New vocabulary based New vocabulary based

on the principle of fall on the principle of fall and recovery and recovery

Designs for groups, mass Designs for groups, mass movements and movements and sculptural shapes sculptural shapes

Other Notable DancersOther Notable Dancers Hanya Holm Hanya Holm José LimónJosé Limón Merce CunninghamMerce Cunningham Paul Taylor Paul Taylor

http://www.ptdc.org/http://www.ptdc.org/

Katherine DunhamKatherine Dunham Alvin Ailey Alvin Ailey

http://www.alvinailey.http://www.alvinailey.org/page.php?org/page.php?p=main&v=4&sec=aap=main&v=4&sec=aaadtadt

Dance TodayDance Today

Take a moment to discuss with a Take a moment to discuss with a partner where we see modern dance partner where we see modern dance performed today. Think not only performed today. Think not only about the stage, but also other types about the stage, but also other types of entertainment (such as in the of entertainment (such as in the media).media).

Current CompaniesCurrent Companies

You can see professional modern You can see professional modern dance companies at:dance companies at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dance_companies#MList_of_dance_companies#M

Modern Dance InfluenceModern Dance InfluenceYour AssignmentYour Assignment

Writing: Research one of the modern dance companies from the website. Write a one-page description of their repertoire and what pioneer

influenced their technique.

Choreography: In groups of 2-8, create a 3-minute piece of modern dance choreography. Music choice must be approved by teacher. Class time will be allotted for choreography. If additional rehearsal time in needed, please see teacher.