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Modern Dance

Terms in this set (42)

What is modern dance?
Relatively new, revolt against the restrictions of ballet, eclectic type of technique
Differences to ballet
usually barefoot, more grounded, lower enter of gravity, free flowing costumes, more movement of the torso, more freedom of movement, subject matter more dramatic/realistic
Loie Fuller
American Dancer; developed many lighting techniques, dancing with costumes that made dancers not look human. Pioneer in mixed media, illusions made toward nature, Serpentine dance: extension or arms makes costume even bigger, heeled shoes
Isadora Duncan
Mother of Modern Dance; natural dancer who rejected ballet, believed that movements should be drawn from nature, developed the Duncan Technique, shocked audiences, movement looked unrehearsed, she would react to the audience.
Duncan Technique
comprised of basic movements such as swinging, jumping, hopping, running. One of the first to dance barefoot
Children died
Isadora Duncan
Denis-Shawn Choreography
Inspired by different cultures-particularly Asian countries. First inspired by a cigarette poster, ethnicity and religious expression, ted
Made Dance a more acceptable career for men
Ted Shawn
Why was Denisshawn an important institution?
Left a legacy- trained the next generation of modern dance choreographers- Graham, Humphrey, and Wiedman
Rudolph Von Laban- Labanotation
"Father of German modern dance" best known for developing a system of notating dance and space still used today to record and reconstruct dances
Mary Wigman
German choreographer and dancer; works are expressionistic, presented dances whose movements were full of meaning and emotion one of the first modern choreographers to use musical scores consisting of mostly of percussion intruments as well as silence, student of Laban, different spatial concepts
Hanya Holm
A student of Mary Wigman, came to the US to establish a Wigman school; she had a company and became a master teacher using the theories of Wigman as well as her own. One of the first modern dance choreographers to choreograph musicals on broadway
My Fair Lady
Hanya Holm
John Martin
Dance critic, America's first major dance critic, propelled modern dance movement, influenced career of Martha Graham
Doris Humphrey Choreographic Interests
Wrote and published a book on choreography very specific structure, graduate of DennisShawn wanted more serious work, fall and recovery method interaction with gravity, musical visualizations-tried to represent music abstract but also work to silence. Group dynamics-highlighted group instead of soloist
Music Visualizations
Music visualizations are a way to see the music through dance, the dancers follow specific instruments or rhythmic patterns.
Fall and Recovery
Fall and recovery balancing and ceding to the pull of gravity
Charles Weidman's choreographic interests
qComedy in dance, "kinetic pantomime" in which music and movement preformed in silence, would alternate, did choreograph serious and dramatic dances
Who is Martha Graham and why is she significant? What were her choreographic interests?
DennisShawn studen established the Martha Graham school of dance- all women at first, psychological dramas, themes drawn from greek mythology, American pioneers, and American Indians. Developed the contracting and releasing technique through the center of the body, intense muscular energy and control and sharp angels. Dances made for her body
Contraction and release
Through the center of the body
Lester Horton--Horton Technique
West coast choreographer focused on presenting works depicting American indian culture, developed the Horton technique- requires a strong torso and symmetrical and asymmetrical movements of the arms and legs, versatile dance. Interracial company- created choreodrama
"The Beloved"
Lester Horton
Choreodrama
Dance drama preformed by a group
Katherine Dunham
Known for combining native Caribbean and modern dance as a researcher and scholar. Musical theatre productions, work influenced jazz dance. Dance anthropology- social dance, folk dance, ballet, modern, jazz. Social commentary, political activism. "Barrel house Blues."
Jose Limon
Student of Humphrey and Wiedman Mexican American heritage influenced his work. Jose Limon Dane Company used the principles of weight and fall and recovery developed technique losely linked to Humphrey's, powerful performer, narrative dance, best work when guided by Humphrey "The Moor's Pauvane"- Shakespeare's Othello
Alvin Ailey
Student of Lester Horton developed his own company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York always concerned with making his dances accessible to the audience combined modern, jazz, and world dance to create a unique style Trained with Graham, Humphrey, Weidman Make dance accessible importance of form. Very athletic. "Revelations"- signature work, most commonly seen, spirituals/ gospel music- 3 sections: pilgrim of sorrow, take me to the water, move members move
How is Post Modernism similar to and different from traditional Modern dance?
multiple veiwpoints, diverse styles, mix of high and low art, irony

Similarities: Both presented dances that displayed innovative movement, utilized social, political, and global themes as well as elements of space, time, and energy in a way that was different form ballet. Differences: Some post modern dances were plot less and devoid of narrative, while traditional modern dances had strong narrative lines. Traditional modern dances employed trained dancers while some post modern used untrained dancers. Traditional often utilized costumes, post modern often used street clothes. Traditional were often presented in theatres, post modern not always.
Who is Merce Cunningham and why is he significant?
Came to dance because of tap dance lessons he received when he was younger. Dancer with Martha Graham dance company for five years then established his own company: Merce Cunningham dance company developed the Cunningham technique in which the spine acts as a spring and can coil, twist, and turn. Employs intricate direction changes and many shifts of weight throughout a given phrase of movement. He created dances that were devoid of meaning and were "movement for movement's sake". "The father of post modern dance". "Points in space". Chance dance
Chance Dance
Whole ballet is designed randomly ex- tossing a coin to decide
John Cage
Cunningham's most notable collaborations where with composer John Cage used chance and indeterminacy methods in his composition
Alwin Nikolais
Rebelled against traditional methods of choreographing- did not feel the self always had to be main focus on stage, dancers presented in costumes that made them appear as objects rather than humans. "Sanctum"- dancers in bags of material, integrated dance music and design, created his own scores, costumes, props, and lighting. Abstract, motion not emotion that he was concerned with.
What is Judson Dane Theatre?
1960's and 70s many choreographers and dancers preformed at Judson Church in New York dancers were determined to reject conventional teachings of their predecessors. Preformed in places other than theatres, used improve and experimental tools in performances. Laid the groundwork for a post modern aesthetic in dance that expanded and often challenged the range of purpose, materials, motivations, structures, and styles in dance.
Yvonne Rainer
A student of Cunningham, one of the founding members of the Judson Dance Theatre, concerned with reducing dance to a minimum, without emotion, theatricality or spectacle. No Manifesto
What makes trio A a significant ballet?
Rainer. Showed movement that was reduced to its bare essentials. There were no dynamic changes of the movements throughout the dance. Dancer did not have to be technically trained. Low energy, awkward transitions, looking down- not at audience, robotic
Trisha Brown
Another founding member of the Judson Dance Theatre. Her choreography employed the use of repetition, she created intricate movement patterns that seemed to logically build from one movement to the next. "Man walking down the side of a building" and "Accumulation"
What makes Accumulation a significant ballet?
Ballet where set of movements is repeated five times then one is added and it continues to repeat.
Who is Lucinda Childs? What are some characteristics of her choreography?
Student of Cunningham and founding member of the Judson dance theatre. Used repetition of movement and phrases, traveling patterns, geometric, Dance rebelled against convention- eliminated formal technique and training, preformed in unconventional places, improve. Composser- Glasse
Phillip Glass
Composer for Lucinda Childs- very mathematical
What is dance theatre?
Blends dance and theatre may include spoken words, singing, and choreography which is propelled by the theme, dramatics, and theatrics. In US the movement or dancing usually takes priority in dance theatre work.
Who is Bill T. Jones? What are his choreographic interests?
Artistic director of the Bill T Jones/ Arnie Zane Dance company, his choreography follows a strong narrative and dramatic line. Subject matter is often controversial. Did opera and broadway. "Still/Here" about living with a terminal illness created major controversy 2 parts still- reactiosn, here- living with death. Won Kennedy Center Award
Who is Pina Bausch and why is she significant?
German choreographer whose company combined dance and theatre to create disturbing pictures of real life situations, many of her dances dealt with gender issues specifically fear and brutality
Who is Jiri Kylian?
Czech choreographer, "Symphony of Psalms" his style included exploring the limitations and capabilities of space, body parts, entrances and exits, contrasts, and humor. "Forgotten land" "Fallen Angles"
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