Modern and Contemporary 1900-Present

Dance - Modern and Contemporary Dance Michel Fokine Russian choreographer Goal: to unite choreography, music and the dancing in ballets. Successful works: Prince Igor, Carnaval and Firebird Developed a five-point philosophy for ballet.

Martha Graham American choreographer Created modern dance Choreographed over 100 dances Included American Indian, ancient dance ritual, American pioneers and Greek mythology. Expressed raw emotion and symbolic meanings Graham Technique -new method of movement Contraction and release of the mid-section of the body.

George Balanchine Russian choreographer Strong influence on American ballet in the 20th Century. Created the New York City Ballet Company Choreographic style called neo-classic very clean and simple Dancers were often dressed in a simple leotard and tights

Alvin Ailey American choreographer Created the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. First black dance company to travel abroad His most famous work- Revelations- gospel ballet Various subject matters like American Indians and Irish Monks. Broke down the barriers of race in dance.

Mikhail Baryshnikov Russian dancer Director of the American Ballet Theatre in 1980. Gave youthful dancers a chance at having lead roles. Formed the White Oaks Dance Project working with Twyla Tharp to blend modern dance and ballet. Baryshnikov became a successful actor and dancer

Dance Styles Modern Dance Hip Hop Tap Modern Tap Swing Break Dance-Hip Hop Evolution of Dance

America’s Best Dance Crew Season 7: Return of the Superstars

Drama/Theatre -Modern & Contemporary American Musical Theatre Musical Theatre is an American art form It combines a script, singing, and dancing. The contribution of African-American music is an important element in the development of American musicals. The 1940’s were the beginning of the “Golden Era” of musicals. Oklahoma 1943 West Side Story 1957 Cabaret 1967 British imports such as Cats and Phantom of the Opera, two of the many Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals to make it on Broadway Today’s technological advances have really enhanced the appeal of musicals for many audiences through the technical elements.

Music - Modern and Contemporary Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) Born in Russia, but also held French and US citizenship Wrote for ballets Used Russian folk stories for the ballet stories. Followed the model of the Romantic composers and used unusual harmonies to create a range of emotions Listen to Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring: Opening to the end of Jeu de Rapt.

George Gershwin (1898-1937) New York born composer His music reflected the unique nature of American Society. Wrote concertos, symphonies and music for musicals which were the “popular” music of the day. Famous piece is Rhapsody in Blue. the sights and sounds of the city, and came to Gershwin while he was riding a train from New York to Boston. Used sounds associated with the jazz music that was so popular in Harlem at the beginning of the 20th century. George and his brother Ira worked together to write songs for Broadway musicals. People would hear a song from a show that they liked, buy the sheet music to it, and sing it in their homes. (before radios)

Aaron Copland (1900-1990) American musical composer Most well known for writing music that represented America. Felt that music needed to be accessible to the general public. Wrote music that he felt could be better understood by everyone. Used American folk songs, American stories, and also some elements of Jazz. Famous pieces: El Salon Mexico (1936) Billy the Kid (1938) Lincoln Portrait (1942) Fanfare for the Common Man (1942) Rodeo (1942) Appalachian Spring (1944)

Duke Ellington (1899-1974) American born Jazz musician Began career as a pianist. From 1924-1932 Ellington’s band played at the Cotton Club in Harlem, NY His band experimented with new timbres for their instruments. Some of these new sounds were growling, bending notes, and using rubber plungers as mutes for their instruments. Wrote over 1000 pieces of music. Many of his pieces became popular hits and are now considered jazz standards.

Visual Art -Modern and Contemporary This period has the most drastic changes happening in visual art. Artists were inventing new art styles that did not rely on representational subject matter. Line, shapes, and forms were simplified and abstracted. This is the period of “isms,” Fauvism, Cubism, Futurism, Constructivism, Precisionism, Expressionism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, and Minimalism.

European Art - Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) Spanish artist Created Cubism broke real objects down into geometric shapes and forms like cubes One of the greatest artists of the modern period, and the most prolific artist of all time. He mastered: drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and ceramics. When he died, he left behind over 50,000 piece of art Experimented with abstract subject matter and using color in nonrealistic ways. Had a “The Blue Period” and a “The Rose Period” Also created the concept of collage. He created 165 paintings in one year, basically one painting every 52 hours!

Salvador Dali (1904-1989) Spanish artist Created a style called Surrealism Influenced by the psychiatrist Sigmund Freud’s theory that our subconscious mind and dreams control a lot of what we think and how we act. The Persistence of Memory- bizarre, dream-like images

Modern and Contemporary American Culture Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) America’s greatest architect. Born in Wisconsin His mother did everything she could to educate him for a career in architecture. Wright believed that “form and function are one,” Felt that using nature-inspired details should not be limited to just surface decoration on a building. “Organic architecture” The Prairie style is considered Frank Lloyd Wright’s biggest contribution to architecture. Prairie style homes are very horizontal with low-pitched roofs and wide overhangs. Wright example homes: The Robie House and Fallingwater

Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) Abstract painter Simplified forms into shapes using form, color, and line. Created a series of skyscraper paintings. She loved the landscapes of the West. Used vivid colors and strong contrasts. Painted close-up images of flowers, shells, and leaves, as well as landscapes Her flower paintings were sensual in their curving lines and vivid