1. A Brief History: Pioneers
Modern Dance
A Brief History: Pioneers

2. What is Modern? The rebellion against ballet
Emphasis on effort of dance
Natural body movements
Began in the late 1800s/early 1900s
Modern has a emphasis on the effort of dance - weight, space, time, flow; the Laban elements. It is rooted in natural body movements and the key purpose is to rebel against ballet.
Watch part (4:16) of a documentary on the history of modern dance:

3. Isadora Duncan
“Mother of Modern Dance”, Laid the foundation of modern dance
Believed art was about personal expression
No more corsets and slippers, Duncan was the first to rebel against ballet and use free flowing movement and barefoot technique
Typical attire was a simple tunic and bare feet
Was seen as vulgar almost like nudity
Style focused on the chest and consisted of walks, skips, jumps, and runs
Died September 14, 1927 in freak accident (Death by Scarf)
Watch a video of a dancer performing like Isadora Duncan. This is not actually Isadora Duncan.
PARIS, FRANCE — Isadora Duncan, the American dancer, tonight met a tragic death in Nice on the Riviera. According to dispatches from Nice Miss Duncan was hurled in an extraordinary manner from an open automobile in which she was riding and instantly killed by the force of her fall to the stone pavement.
Affecting, as was her habit, an unusual costume, Miss Duncan was wearing an immense iridescent silk scarf wrapped about her neck and streaming in long folds, part of which was swathed about her body with part trailing behind. After an evening walk along the Promenade de Anglais about 10 o'clock, she entered an open rented car, directing the driver to take her to the hotel where she was staying. Neither she nor the driver noticed one of her scarf's loose ends was over the side of the car — caught in the rear wheel. As she took her seat in the car neither she nor the driver noticed that one of the loose ends fell outside over the side of the car and was caught in the rear wheel of the machine.
Dragged Bodily From the Car. The automobile was going at full speed when the scarf of strong silk suddenly began winding around the wheel and with terrific force dragged Miss Duncan, around whom it was securely wrapped, bodily over the side of the car, precipitating her with violence against the cobblestone street. She was dragged for several yards before the chauffeur halted, attracted by her cries in the street.
Medical aid immediately was summoned, but it was stated that she had been strangled and killed instantly.
This end to a life full of many pathetic episodes was received as a great shock in France, where, despite her numerous eccentric traits, Miss Duncan was regarded as a great artist. Her great popularity in France was increased by the entire nation's sympathy when in 1913 her two young children also perished in an automobile tragedy. The car in which they had been left seated started, driverless, down a hill and plunged over a bridge into the Seine River. [The article continues.]

4. Ruth St. Denis
In 1938, Ruth St. Denis founded one of the first dance departments in America at Adelphi University.
She started a dance company called Denishawn, with her husband, Ted Shawn
Martha Graham was one of her more famous pupils.
Her choreography was influenced by the East and the Orient.
She is known for her ornate costumes and set pieces.
Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn were also instrumental in creating the legendary dance festival, Jacob's Pillow.
Early Pioneers of Modern dance include: Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis. These women did not want to be bound by the rules and codified steps of Ballet. They wanted to be different in movement (basis on gravity, inlike the light and airiness of ballet), attire (free flowing tunics), no shoes and no plot lines. Duncan, Humphrey and Martha Graham were inspired by Greek Mythology’s tragic lives.
Watch a short video of Ruth St. Denis dancing in the 'East Indian Nautch Dance‘ in 1932.
Listen to an interview of Ruth St. Denis and her beliefs of dance and mankind. (Start at 2:20 and watch through 3:50)

5. Martha Graham
Generally accepted as the greatest single figure in American modern dance
Danced with Denishawn from
Created “Graham technique,” This style focuses on the pelvis and spine/abs.
Dances were about heroic women in myths and history
Her choreography was often used to express her passions and rages.
Graham developed the principles of “contraction” and “release”
Graham technique was notable for its nervous energy. It was based on a study of breathing
Watch “Martha Graham – Lamentation” from 1930
Trapped in a body bag
Her work was often sad
Watch “Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring Part 2/4” Graham plays the bride.
Watch “Martha Graham Cortege of Eagles” Graham plays the bereaved queen.
Her later work often focused on Greek mythology

6. Prominent Modern Artists
Doris Humphrey
Created theory of fall and recovery
Charles Weidman
Known for abstract, rhythmic pantomime
Hayna Holm
German modern artist
Brought modern dance to Broadway musicals

7. Erick Hawkins
Joined the Graham company in 1938 he became her principle partner
Married Martha Graham
Created his own technique, softening the Graham technique, infusing it with nature imagery; the moon, stars, desert, and sea
His concepts are based on kinesiology.

8. Merce Cunningham 1919-2009 Member of the Graham company from 1939-1945
Most influential of Graham’s students
Mixed elements of music, set, costumes, and dance- shifting their relationship
Applied philosopher/composer John Cage’s theory that “any sound can be music” to dance and realize that any movement can be dance
Dance by Chance
Known for decentralizing his dancers-moving them all over the stage in a random scattered way
Watch “Points in Space”
The noises you hear is the music composed by John Cage. Music and lyrics were written, then technology was used to remove all of the vowels. What you hear is what was left. This piece was done in the 80s.

9. Alvin Ailey
The first to give black dancers and choreographers opportunities in concert dance.
Ailey began his company by looking for dancers with unique qualities-not only strong personalities but also impeccable technique.
His choreography related to the prejudices he endured as an African American and his struggles growing up in a small East Texas town after being abandoned by his father at a young age.
His move famous piece is “Revelations.” Revelations tells the story of slavery.
His most famous dance was “Revelations” that tells the story of slavery in the US
Watch “Alvin Ailey Dance – Wade in the Water from “Revelations””
Watch “Alvin Ailey Revelations Fix Me Jesus on So You Think You Can Dance”

10. Pilobolus (dance company)
Connecticut based company of choreographers and dancer-athletes committed to developing original works each year.
Make shapes out of their bodies
Watch their performance on the Oscars.