Modern Dance emerged as a contrast or rejection of the rigid constraints of Ballet. From individual free expressions to Contemporary Modern Dance, just like its beginnings, Modern Dance is forever changing. Today, combining unifying elements of other genres of dance (African, Ballet, Jazz, Hip-Hop), Modern Dance is interested in the communication of emotional experiences, through basic and uninhibited movement. Currently, through all of its variations, it has become whatever the choreographer would like it to be according to the artist’s background, teachings, technique, style, and imagination. Because it is so personal and individualistic, this artform will remain popular and viable for years to come.
Check Your Understanding
DIRECTIONS: Using the Elements of Dance, select a ballet video from Chapter Two and a modern dance video from Chapter Three. Compare and contrast its important qualities to reflect the aesthetic values placed on ballet and modern dance (minimum 150 words).
H5p Dates timeline activity
Modern dance Quiz 1:
2
Humphrey, Doris, and Barbara Pollack. The Art of Making Dances. London: Dance Books, 1997.
Loring, Dawn Davis, and Julie L. Pentz. Dance Appreciation. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 2022.
Lihs, Harriet R. Appreciating Dance a Guide to the World’s Liveliest Art. Princeton Book Company, 2018.
About Us.” Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Accessed August 1, 2021. https://www.alvinailey.org/about-us.
e_flux, and PlutoCross. “Yvonne Rainer, ‘No Manifesto.’” e, April 24, 2015. https://conversations.e-flux.com/t/yvonne-rainer-no-manifesto/1454.
“Axis Dance Company.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, March 3, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AXIS_Dance_Company.
Neal, contributed by: Nelson. “Hemsley Winfield (1907-1934) •.” •, April 21, 2022. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/people-african-american-history/hemsley-winfield-1907-1934/.
“Edna Guy.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, June 23, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edna_Guy.
“Bio.” Twyla Tharp. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://www.twylatharp.org/bio.
“Pearl Primus.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, December 3, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Primus#:~:text=In%201979%2C%20she%20and%20her,modern%20dance%20and%20ballet%20techniques.
Mennenga, contributed by: Lacinda. “Pearl Primus (1919-1994) •.” •, February 6, 2020. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/primus-pearl-1919-1994/.
“Talley Beatty.” Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, October 7, 2020. https://www.alvinailey.org/talley-beatty.
Great performances: Free to dance – biographies – Talley Beatty. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://www.thirteen.org/freetodance/biographies/beatty.html.
“Donald McKayle Endowment for Modern Dance.” Donald McKayle Endowment for Modern Dance | Claire Trevor School of the Arts | UC Irvine. Accessed July 12, 2022. https://www.arts.uci.edu/mckayle.
Arnold, Tisha. “’The Choreographer’s Last Dance’ Performance to Honor Dianne Maroney-Grigsby.” Grambling State University News, April 22, 2022. https://www.gram.edu/news/index.php/2022/04/22/the-choreographers-last-dance-performance-to-honor-dianne-maroney-grigsby/.
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