The Pioneers: First and Second Generations
The Pioneers: First and Second Generations HISTORICAL CONTEXT Modern dance appeared in Germany and the United States in the early 20th century. In the late 19th century, the second Industrial Revolution brought significant changes. The rise of people who lived and worked in cities, mainly middle-class or white-collar workers, lived less active lifestyles resulting in […]
Modern Dance
“Dance is the hidden language of the soul.”-Martha Graham What is Modern Dance? In the early twentieth century, choreographers broke away from the strict traditions of ballet to develop dance as varied and rich as the American melting pot. Choreographers drew upon the styles of many cultures to create a new dance form as […]
Summary
SUMMARY Ballet is a Western classical dance form with a rich history—beginning in the Renaissance as a royal court entertainment infused with social and political purposes, eventually developing into a codified technique. Over time, ballet transformed, experiencing costume changes in the Enlightenment that led to dancers being able to express themselves without being confined to […]
Contemporary Ballet: Ballet in The 21st Century
Contemporary Ballet: Ballet in The 21st Century Fig. 22 Dance Theatre of Harlem photo credit: Matty Stern/U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv CC By 2.0 Contemporary ballet is a dance genre that uses classical techniques (French terminology) that choreographers manipulate and blend with other dance forms, such as modern dance. Alonzo King LINES Ballet Alonzo King is an […]
Ballet Russes: Dance and The Avant-Garde
Ballet Russes: Dance and The Avant-Garde Sergei Diaghilev (1872-1929) Fig. 17 George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress) – This image is available from the United States Library of Congress’s Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ggbain.20797. CC Public Domain Sergei Diaghilev, a Russian art lover, organized the Ballet Russes in 1909. He […]
Romantic Ballet
Romantic Ballet From France and the royal academy, dance masters brought ballet to the other courts of Europe. These professional teachers and choreographers attended London, Vienna, Milan, and Copenhagen, where the monarchs supported ballet. During the 18th century, the French Revolution ended the French monarchy, and Europe saw political and social changes that profoundly affected […]
Ballet
“Nothing resembles a dream more than a ballet, and it is this which explains the singular pleasure that one receives from these apparently frivolous representations. One enjoys, while awake, the phenomenon that nocturnal fantasy traces on the canvas of sleep; an entire world of chimeras moves before you.” -Theophile Gautier, French poet What is […]
Summary
Summary All dance forms share foundational concepts known as the Elements of Dance. The Elements of Dance are overarching concepts and terminology that are useful when observing, creating, analyzing, and discussing dance. Dance can be broken down into its primary elements : body, Energy, space, and Time. It can be easily recalled through the acronym […]
Time
Time Dance is a Time art; movement develops and reveals itself in Time. Adding a rhythmic sense to movement helps transform ordinary movement into dance and informs when the dancer moves. Pulse: The basic pulse or underlying beat Speed (tempo): Fast, moderate, slow Rhythm Pattern: A grouping of long or short beats, accents or silences […]
Space
Space Let’s look at where the dance takes place. Is the dance expansive, using lots of space, or is it more intimate, using primarily personal space? An exploration of space increases our awareness of the visual design aspects of movement. Personal Space: The space around the dancer’s body can also be called near space. A […]
