Post on 06-Dec-2014
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TWENTIETH CENTURYMODERN DANCE
“The body says what words cannot.”-Martha Graham
DEFINITION OF MODERN DANCEModern Dance: A style of theatrical dancing that is
not as restricted as classical ballet; movements are expressive of feelings.
It is an expressive form of art.
HISTORY & INFLUENCE
Originated in the United States In the early 1900’s
Started as a rebellion against the strict style of classical ballet
Based on Utopian ideals First seen as extremely radical
CHARACTERISTICS OF MODERN DANCE
Interpretive instead of using sets of steps and dance books Looks improvised
Loose movement Gravity plays and important
role Tells a story though the dance
Use motions, props, music, and lights to show emotions
Costumes were important to the overall dance
Do a lot of floor work and choreography on the
ground C-Shaped spine
Barefoot or light shoes Heavy movements
Costumes made to show movement
Upright choreography like leaps and turns Erect spine
Pointe shoes or ballet slippers
Light on their feet Elegant structured
costumes to show beauty
Modern Dance Ballet
THE PHYSICS OF MODERN DANCE
Gravity: Use laws of gravity for falls, balancing, and
elevation Important to maintain your natural heightCenter of gravity
Action & Reaction:For every action there must be an equal and
opposite reaction (Newton's third law) Centrifugal & Centripetal Forces
Affect circular motion such as turns; revolve around an axis
Inertia and Momentum
THE PIONEERS
Martha GrahamRuth St. Denis & Ted Shawn
Isadora DuncanLoie Fuller
MARTHA GRAHAM(1894-1991) Mother of modern dance, not
graham crackers! American dancer and
choreographer Learned to dance at Denishawn
Studio in NYC Inspiration for the routines came
from a “certain string” First to establish moving scenery
and speech with dancing Broke social norms on how dance
was seen Founded her own dance
company, technique, and theatre
RUTH ST. DENIS & TED SHAWN(1877-1960)
Founded Ruth St. Denis School of Dancing and Related Arts (Denishawn)
Based movements on other world dance forms East Asia, Egypt, Japan,
India…
ISADORA DUNCAN(1877-1927)
American dancer Accrediting with inventing
“modern dance” Barefoot, free flowing,
Brought dance back to its roots from other cultures Grecian, folks, nature…
while incorporating American athleticism
LOIE FULLER(1862-1928)
She was the first choreographer to incorporate lighting into her pieces Multicolored lights on
silk First to use
incandescent lights Had a traveling lighting
team Responsible for
multiple European tours Isadora Duncan
CRITIQUES
Hard to follow the storyline Not widely accepted at the
time Audiences were intrigued
by the new style
INFLUENCE ON TODAY
Modern dance has become more widely accepted and known
Influenced other styles Especially post-modern
dance and contemporary
Most popular style of dance in the professional world
Featured tours and television shows
“I THOUGHT I WAS SEEING A REVELATION. TIME STOPPED FOR ME. I COULD NOT BELIEVE WHAT I WAS SEEING. THOSE WORKS ARE ENGRAVED ON MY BRAIN, MY MIND, MY HEART. I’VE NEVER FORGOTTEN, NEVER, THE ATMOSPHERE ON STAGE, THE LIGHTING… THE USE OF PROPS, THE USE OF COSTUME… THE STRONGEST, SIMPLEST, MOST POWERFUL THEATER I THINK I’VE EVER SEEN.” – GLEN TETLEY (CRITIC)