Modern Dance

1. Modern Dance Ms. Pendry

2. What is Modern Dance? How would you define modern dance?

3. Modern Dance Defined Before the 20th Century, dance was reflective of the dancer’s culture. America wanted to create a form of dance to reflect its own individuality. In our country individual achievement and success became very important. In the 20th Century we made dance a personally expressive art form. People took traditional dance forms and created personal expression.

4. Who began modern dance? Three Forerunners Loie Fuller Isadora Duncan Ruth St. Dennis

5. Loie Fuller(1862-1928) 1892 – At 30, she began dancing with 100 yards of silk costuming and decided that she need to light herself on stage. She invented the color wheel which was used on stage until the 1980’s. 1892 – Serpentine 1899 – Fire Dance

6. Isadora Duncan(1878-1927) Pioneered expressive dance. 1889-1904 – European, Paris and Greek Period. Defined her movements as “Frolicking.” 1904-1921 – Opened a dance school in Greece. She adopted children and developed them as dancers. 1921 – Heroic Period. She explored the emotions of war and wanted to express communism change in Russia. Current Isadora Technique

7. Ruth St. Dennis (1877-1968) She built her career after seeing Loie Fuller and Isadora Duncan in Paris. Elevated the dance in Vaudeville to a performance art rather than an entertainment. 1906 – She made up movements from books and pictures. She used elaborate costumes and researched India. 1932 – East Indian Nautch Dance

8. Denishawn Ruth St. Denis/ Ted Shawn Martha Graham

9. Martha Graham (1894-1991) Her father took her to see Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn perform and it was then that she was determined to dance. 1925 She danced for Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn. But left the company with the pianist Louis Horst. She studied the Aztecs and looked at America rather than Egypt and Greece. She wanted her dance to show the ‘Inner landscape of the heart.”

10. Long Wollen’s Period (1928-1938) - Louis Horst forced her to work and her technique evolved from her dances. - Coco Chanel invented Wool Jersey which would stretch but stay tight on the torso. - Her technique revolved around contracting and releasing. Steps in the Street

11. Americana Period (1936 – 1948) Themes relate to American Life 1944-1945 Appalachian Spring

12. Look at Myths She studied Greek Myths and ways to give sense of morality. She choreographed the dances from a woman’s point of view. 1947 – Night Journey Following Martha’s Greek Period, she did more work with the idea of America. 1990 - Maple Leaf Rag

13. Graham Technique This year in dance, our warm-ups will include some Graham based techniques to strengthen our core. What connections can you already make to Martha Graham? 5 Sentences. Use the new information you have learned!