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MODERN DANCE. A reaction against ballet. The early 1900’s-1930’s embraced the careers of American dancers who changed the traditional idea of classical dance. Two developments helped inspire freer dance movement: 1. A system of natural expressive gestures.
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MODERN DANCE A reaction against ballet
The early 1900’s-1930’s embraced the careers of American dancers who changed the traditional idea of classical dance. • Two developments helped inspire freer dance movement: 1. A system of natural expressive gestures. 2. Eurythmics: a system of teaching musical rhythms through body movement (created by Dalacroze.)
Early dancers looked beyond traditions of Western theatrical ballet to give their dance more communicative power. • Their dance came from more exotic sources.
Michel Fokine • Russian choreographer/dancer • Accepted into the St. Petersburg Imperial Ballet at age 9. • His virtuosity as a dancer and chorographer lead to hardships, and he eventually moved to New York for opportunities.
In New York he founded a school of ballet (with his now wife, Vera Fokine). • Known for Ballet Russe or Russian Ballets. This was the name of the company he established in 1909. • Two of his most famous ballets with the Ballet Russe are The Firebird and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade. • His costuming was very brightly colored, dances were very animalistic and primitive; non-proper. His dances sometimes bordered on vulgarity. (I.e. Scheherazade)
Isadora Duncan • Used Greek sculpture and images as sources of inspiration. • Danced in bare feet and a simple tunic
Isadora Duncan • Created dances that alternated between resisting and yielding to gravity. • Inspired by the music of Romantic composers such as Chopin and Liszt.
The second wave of modern dancers emerged in New York. • This wave included American dancer Martha Graham. • Second wave dancers turned to basic human movement experiences (such as breathing and walking) for their influences. • They transformed natural actions into dance movements.
Martha Graham • Martha Graham explored movement initiated in the torso. • Her dance was about contraction and release from natural breathing. • Choreography inspired by Diaghilev’s Rite of Spring (music by Stravinsky).
In the 1930’s she became interested in literary subject matter. • In her choreography she often portrayed a female protagonist and had the other dancers in her troop portray moments of crisis. • Known for her dancing role in the ballet Appalachian Spring (music by Aaron Copland).
Jose Limon • Pioneering modern dancer/choreographer. • Influenced by Doris Humphrey, Isadora Duncan, and Charles Weidman. • Founded the Jose Limon Dance Company (still survives today). • Drafted and served the U.S. ARMY.
Alvin Ailey • Combined ballet and modern dance • Concentrated on African American themes • Pluralist
Twyla Tharp • Choreography combined social dance, ballet and modern dance. • Began her dance career during the 60’s. • Tended to push things to an extreme. • Incorporates humor into her choreography. • Her dance usually served as a commentary on social issues.
Post-modern dance (mid-1980’s) is no longer interested in traditional techniques. It instead relies on theatrical elements and the use of literary and pictorial devices. • Dance braches into many different styles.
ASSIGNMENT • NAME 4 (FOUR) TYPES OF MODERN DANCE. • GIVE A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF EACH OF THE 4 (FOUR) YOU CHOSE. • WHERE MIGHT EACH OF THE 4 (FOUR) OCCURE? GIVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES. • WHY WOULD EACH OF THESE DANCES BE USED FOR EACH SPECIFIC OCCASION? (THINK HARD!)
