MODERN MODERN DANCEDANCE

A reaction against A reaction against balletballet

The early 1900’s-1930’s embraced the The early 1900’s-1930’s embraced the careers of American dancers who careers of American dancers who changed the traditional idea of changed the traditional idea of classical dance.classical dance.

Two developments helped inspire freer Two developments helped inspire freer dance movement:dance movement:1. A system of natural expressive 1. A system of natural expressive gestures.gestures.2.2. Eurythmics: a system of teaching Eurythmics: a system of teaching musical rhythms through body musical rhythms through body movement (created by Dalacroze.)movement (created by Dalacroze.)

Early dancers looked beyond traditions Early dancers looked beyond traditions of Western theatrical ballet to give their of Western theatrical ballet to give their dance more communicative power.dance more communicative power.

Their dance came from more exotic Their dance came from more exotic sources.sources.

Michel FokineMichel Fokine

Russian choreographer/dancerRussian choreographer/dancer Accepted into the St. Petersburg Accepted into the St. Petersburg

Imperial Ballet at age 9.Imperial Ballet at age 9. His virtuosity as a dancer and His virtuosity as a dancer and

chorographer lead to hardships, chorographer lead to hardships, and he eventually moved to New and he eventually moved to New York for opportunities.York for opportunities.

In New York he founded a school of In New York he founded a school of ballet (with his now wife, Vera Fokine).ballet (with his now wife, Vera Fokine).

Known for Known for Ballet Russe Ballet Russe or Russian or Russian Ballets. This was the name of the Ballets. This was the name of the company he established in 1909.company he established in 1909.

Two of his most famous ballets with Two of his most famous ballets with the the Ballet RusseBallet Russe are are The FirebirdThe Firebird and and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Rimsky-Korsakov’s ScheherazadeScheherazade..

His costuming was very brightly His costuming was very brightly colored, dances were very animalistic colored, dances were very animalistic and primitive; non-proper. His dances and primitive; non-proper. His dances sometimes bordered on vulgarity. (I.e. sometimes bordered on vulgarity. (I.e. Scheherazade)Scheherazade)

Isadora DuncanIsadora Duncan

Used Greek sculpture and images Used Greek sculpture and images as sources of inspiration.as sources of inspiration.

Danced in bare feet and a simple Danced in bare feet and a simple tunictunic

Isadora DuncanIsadora Duncan Created dances that alternated Created dances that alternated

between resisting and yielding to between resisting and yielding to gravity.gravity.

Inspired by the music of Romantic Inspired by the music of Romantic composers such as Chopin and composers such as Chopin and Liszt.Liszt.

The second wave of modern dancers The second wave of modern dancers emerged in New York. emerged in New York.

This wave included American dancer This wave included American dancer Martha Graham.Martha Graham.

Second wave dancers turned to basic Second wave dancers turned to basic human movement experiences (such human movement experiences (such as breathing and walking) for their as breathing and walking) for their influences. influences.

They transformed natural actions into They transformed natural actions into dance movements.dance movements.

Martha GrahamMartha Graham Martha Graham explored movement Martha Graham explored movement

initiated in the torso.initiated in the torso. Her dance was about contraction Her dance was about contraction

and release from natural breathing.and release from natural breathing. Choreography Choreography

inspired by inspired by Diaghilev’s Diaghilev’s Rite of Spring Rite of Spring (music by (music by Stravinsky)Stravinsky)..

In the 1930’s she became In the 1930’s she became interested in literary subject interested in literary subject matter.matter.

In her choreography she often In her choreography she often portrayed a female protagonist portrayed a female protagonist and had the other dancers in her and had the other dancers in her troop portray moments of crisis.troop portray moments of crisis.

Known for her dancing role in the Known for her dancing role in the ballet ballet Appalachian Spring Appalachian Spring (music (music by Aaron Copland).by Aaron Copland).

Jose LimonJose Limon

Pioneering modern Pioneering modern dancer/choreographer.dancer/choreographer.

Influenced by Doris Humphrey, Influenced by Doris Humphrey, Isadora Duncan, and Charles Isadora Duncan, and Charles Weidman.Weidman.

Founded the Jose Limon Dance Founded the Jose Limon Dance Company (still survives today).Company (still survives today).

Drafted and served the U.S. ARMY.Drafted and served the U.S. ARMY.

POST-WAR POST-WAR DEVELOPEMENTSDEVELOPEMENTS

Alvin AileyAlvin Ailey

Combined ballet and modern Combined ballet and modern dancedance

Concentrated on African Concentrated on African American themesAmerican themes

PluralistPluralist

Twyla TharpTwyla Tharp

Choreography combined social dance, Choreography combined social dance, ballet and modern dance. ballet and modern dance.

Began her dance career during the Began her dance career during the 60’s.60’s.

Tended to push things to an extreme.Tended to push things to an extreme. Incorporates humor into her Incorporates humor into her

choreography.choreography. Her dance usually served as a Her dance usually served as a

commentary on social issues.commentary on social issues.

Post-modern dance (mid-1980’s) Post-modern dance (mid-1980’s) is no longer interested in is no longer interested in traditional techniques. It instead traditional techniques. It instead relies on theatrical elements and relies on theatrical elements and the use of literary and pictorial the use of literary and pictorial devices.devices.

Dance braches into many Dance braches into many different styles.different styles.

ASSIGNMENTASSIGNMENT

1.1. NAME 4 (FOUR) TYPES OF MODERN NAME 4 (FOUR) TYPES OF MODERN DANCE.DANCE.

2.2. GIVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EACH GIVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EACH OF THE 4 (FOUR) YOU CHOSE.OF THE 4 (FOUR) YOU CHOSE.

3.3. WHERE MIGHT EACH OF THE 4 WHERE MIGHT EACH OF THE 4 (FOUR) OCCURE? GIVE SPECIFIC (FOUR) OCCURE? GIVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES.EXAMPLES.

4.4. WHY WOULD EACH OF THESE WHY WOULD EACH OF THESE DANCES BE USED FOR EACH DANCES BE USED FOR EACH SPECIFIC OCCASION? (THINK HARD!)SPECIFIC OCCASION? (THINK HARD!)