By: Allie Zang, Karuna Mizusaki, Kayla Jowski

Created in the Renaissance Period (1500’s) in Italy

Main Characteristics:• Structured positions and steps• Different styles of ballet exist• Ballets tell stories• Classical music• Negative aspects: eating

disorders, competitive, low pay

Marius Petipa•Worked closely with the

composer Tchaikovsky•Created ballets such as

Swan Lake and the Nutcracker

•Originally was a principal (top) dancer at the Paris Opera Ballet

George Balanchine• His style is regarded as neo-

classical• Unlike Petipa, Balanchine

de-emphasized plots• Choreography: quick jumps,

lots of turns, and lots of changing arms

• Copyrighted ballets

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

Early 1900’s Main Characteristics:

• Less structured• “Pedestrian” Movements• Costume

Runs, skips, jumps Bare feet, bare legs Loose Tunics

• Mime Large Gestures

Isadora Duncan (1877-1927)• Greek Sculptures• Life, wind, waves

“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

http://youtu.be/B--BW0T9tsA

Martha Graham (1894-1991)• *Use of fabric*• Dramatic• Express emotion

http://youtu.be/xgf3xgbKYko

Doris Humphrey (1895-1958)• “dancing from the inside out”• Movements based on fall and recovery

Ruth St. Denis joined the Denishawn Dance School and Company in L.A. and soon became a leading soloist.

Alvin Ailey (1931-1989)• Transformation to Contemporary

http://youtu.be/Ds9VQG1D8yM

Paul Taylor (1930-present)• Duet (1957)• Esplanade (1975)

Walking, running, jumping, falling

TRADITIONAL BALLET MODERN BALLET

Structure:

• Pointed Feet

•Accurate Arms

•Strong Back

•Delicate Movements

Less Structured

• Life-like Movements

• No Rules

• Back Contraction

Contemporary Dance emerged from combining Classical ballet with Jazz/Lyrical, with influences from many other cultures like African.

Main Characteristics• Tricks• Emotion• Facial Expressions• Music

Anything created after the 1970’s was considered contemporary.

Choreographers• Mia Michaels• Travis Wall• Victor Smalley• Sonya Tayeh • Tokyo

Mia Micheals• 3 Emmy Nominations • I Emmy• Most sought our choreographer worldwide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38XIFZLlIiM

Travis Wall• Danced on So You Think You Can Dance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi1GYQv2Lb0&feature=related

Victor Smalley• Owns Stars Dance Studio• On Dance Moms Miami• Contestant on SYTYCD• His first passion was art

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gqv76KRnJpQ

Sonya Tayeh• Studied at Wayne State University• Choreographer on SYTYCD• Top most wanted choreographers in the

world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6tp8xByIAE&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLAC64F000C6CD78C7

Toyko• Works in LA• He started off in Kalamazoo, MI• Top wanted guest choreographer in the

world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qury1FqvHAw

Modern dance= story-less, no plot.

Ballet was created for aesthetic appeal. Modern dance was created for emotional appeal.

Martha Graham and Doris Humphrey were concerned with externalizing personal, authentic, personal experience.

Ballet costumes are more extravagant and elaborate

From ballet to modern/contemporary dance, the costumes have become more simple and minimal.

Now it’s YOUR turn to learn dance! Get

on your feet and start stretching!

1st Position

2nd Position

3rd Position

4th Position

5th Position