MS. PENDRY

Modern Dance

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE MODERN DANCE?

What is Modern Dance?

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.

THREE FORERUNNERS

LOIE FULLERISADORA DUNCAN RUTH ST. DENNIS

Who began modern dance?

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

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

1932 – East Indian Nautch Dance

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.

Ruth St. Dennis(1877-1968)

Ruth St. Denis/ Ted Shawn

Martha Graham

Denishawn

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.”

Martha Graham (1894-1991)

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

Americana Period (1936 – 1948)-Themes relate to American Life

-1944-1945 Appalachian Spring

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

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!