Isadora Duncan
Mother of Modern Dance
Rebel against oppression of human race and corseted ballet
Inspired barefoot dancing in Europe and America
Inspired by Greek architecture and sculpture
Feminist
Simple tunics/robes for costumes
Deep emotion in pieces
Used rhythmic sequences of simple movements
Performed to classic music
Influenced Diaghilev & Fokine
Ruth St. Denis
Modern dance pioneer
Co-founder of the American Denishawn School of Dance
Was a skirt dancer then created pieces influenced by Oriental philosophies
Martha Graham was her pupils, also Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman
Ted Shawn
Co-founder of American Denishawn School of Dance
One of first notable male pioneers of modern dance
Has innovative ideas of masculine movement
Founder and creator of Jacob’s Pillow
Created principle of Music Visualization in modern dance with Ruth
Music Visualization
Concept where movement equivalents to timbres, dynamics and structural shapes of music in addition to its rhythmic base
Denishawn
School of Dancing and Related Arts founded in 1915 in LA
Curriculum included Oriental dance, Spanish dance, American Indian, basic ballet
Renowned for influence on ballet and experimental modern dance
Branch schools of Denishawn opened around the country
Jacob’s Pillow
Founded by Ted Shawn (after split from Denishawn/wife)
In Massachusetts
Oldest int’l acclaimed Summer dance festival in US
Has year-round community programs
Mary Wigman
After WWII, was the most important German modern dance choreographer
Stocky, muscular dancer
Choreo was intense, even lyrical
Somber works that called attention to primitive drives
Hanya Holm
Assistant of Wigman
Realized difference of America and ran own studio in US
Formed own company and choreographed for it»Trend was most important work
Created dances for Broadway
Martha Graham Style and Technique
Technique based on breathed, contraction and release of torso, didn’t try to hide effort
Shapes were angular, sharp, strong
Trained dancers in her personal style
Martha Graham Choreo
Themes dealt with struggles that shaped American culture
Vehicles for exploring human emotion and behavior
Dances about women
Used retrospective choreo.
Multiple dances to depict 1 personality
Doris Humphrey
Was a Denishawn dancer Focused on harmonious and noble side of humanity Technique based on fall/recovery Spiritual/moral person >>'Shakers' about religious sect Wrote The Art of Making Dances
Jose Limon
Lead in Humphrey’s company
Style reflected his Hispanic culture
Started his own company–Humphrey was artistic director
Choreo. was dramatic/turbulent
Did choreo. for ABT, Royal Danish Ballet, Joffrey
Charles Weidman
Partnered with Doris Humphrey to create the Humphrey-Weidman Company
Known for wit/comedy in works
Choreo. for the company after Humphrey became sick
Helen Tamiris
Influenced by American history (was Russian immigrant)
Considered 1st white choreo. to take black culture seriously
Choreo. showed concern for human significance and social justice
Chief choreo. for federal theatre
Broadway choreo. (Annie get your gun, showboat)
Advocate for arts during FDR
Lester Horton
Directed dance groups in LA to show modern outside of NY
Interest in American Indian & Mexican culture
Imaginative–always changed titles, music, phrases– was confusing for company
First modern company that was racially integrated
Horton Technique
High extensions, fluid back, turns, falls
Sequences from floor to air to floor
Ethnic gestures
Did not have a good warm-up
Bella Lewitzky
Great performer and organizer
Instrumental in develop. of Horton technique
Focused on teaching children
Katherine Dunham
Black dance pioneer in 40’s
Concentrated on “negro” culture–people not impressed
An anthropologist
Used Caribbean and black American themes in her choreo
People weren’t accepting of jazz music at this time (too sexual)
Alvin Ailey
Student of Lester Horton and did choreo after his death
Started Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in 1958
Most famous works: Revelations
Alwin Nikolais
Studied at a Wigman branch
Choreo. lies in art from itself (as opposed to earlier modern works who focus on drama or emotion)
Choreo. for the Federal Theater
Asst. for Hanya Holm for a time
Known as modern dance’s pioneer for multimedia
Used costumes to change the body’s shape
Dancers were often unisex
Avant-Garde Movement
Modern dancers became almost too polished/restricted like ballet
In 1950s/60s this style was developed to counter this
Broke barriers between audience and performers
Avoided emotion and plot
Merce Cunningham
Modern dance was for & about the movement
Studied with Graham and ballet
Cunningham’s Theories
Chance and indeterminacy
Staged space an open filed
Components of productions as separate entities
Dance was about movement – expressionless and everyday movement
Paul Taylor
Performed with Cunningham and Graham
Choreographic chameleon
Had own company but ballet companies performed his pieces
