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