Modern Dance

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MODERN

DANCE
HISTORY
Modern Dance emerged in the
late 19th and early 20th centuries as a
reaction against the strict rules and
forms of classical ballet. Dancers and
choreographers wanted more freedom
to express human emotion and
everyday experiences through
movement.
EARLY PIONEERS
●Isadora Duncan
(1877-1927): Often
credited as the founder
of modern dance, she
rejected ballet’s rigid
structure, embracing
free, flowing
movements inspired by
nature and ancient
Greek art.
EARLY PIONEERS
●Ruth St. Denis and
Ted Shawn: This duo
brought spiritual and
cultural influences into
modern dance, co-
founding the
Denishawn School of
Dance, which trained
many future modern
dance icons.
EARLY PIONEERS
●Martha Graham
(1894-1991):
Developed her unique
style and technique,
known as “contraction
and release”, which
emphasized the
tension between
movements and
stillness to convey
EXPANSION
●Merce Cunningham (1919-2009): Focused on
abstract movement, often creating dance
independent of music or narrative, making dance
more about pure movement.
●Alvin Ailey (1931-1989): Integraed African-
American cultural influences into modern dance,
creating iconic pieces like Revelations that
celebrated Black history and experience.
●Jose Limon: Developed the “fall and recovery”
technique, emphasizing the use of gravity and
Movements and Techniques:

Contraction
01 and release 02 Fall and
Recovery
Popularized by Martha Pioneered by Doris
Graham, this involves Humphrey and Jose
tightening the Limon, this technique
muscles (contraction) explores the body’s
and then releasing natural response to
the tension to move gravity, using falling
into another position. movements and the
effort to recover
balance.
Movements and Techniques:

03 Floor Work 04 Improvisation


In contrast to ballet, the Modern dancers often
modern dance embraces use improvisation to
movements that connect explore new movements
the body to the ground. or ideas This encourages
Dancers often roll, slide, creativity and
or lie down on the floor, individuality, allowing
moving fluidly from dancers to move in ways
standing to grounded that feel natural to
positions. them.
Movements and Techniques:

05 Parallel Foot 06 Use of Breath


Position
Breath is used to enhance
While ballet emphasizes the quality of movement,
turned-out feet, modern connecting the body and
dance often works in a the emotional intention of
parallel position, with the dance. Dancers may
feet and knees facing exhale strongly to
forward. emphasize release or inhale
deeply to prepare for
expansive movements.
MODERN DANCE MOVES

LATERALS
The arm over the supporting leg
comes straight up next to the ear as
the torso tilts, unbroken to the side,
over the supporting leg. The opposite
leg lifts pointed through the toes.
The other arm swings up as the leg
rises and parallels the straight arm
next to the head. The body continues
to tilt sideways from the pelvis in one
MODERN DANCE MOVES

SPIRAL
The spiral is a torso twist that begins
in the pelvis. As the body turns, each
level is separately articulated all the
way up the spine – pelvis, lower
spine, mid-section, shoulders, neck
and head. The head remains in
alignment with the spine. The spiral
releases in the same order: pelvis up
to shoulders, neck and then head.
MODERN DANCE MOVES

STAG LEAP
The Stag Leap is a very high jump in
a split but, although both legs are
parallel to the floor, the front leg is
bent from the knee inward. Most
often the arms are either thrust up in
“V”, facing out and down, or one-
forward, one-to-the-side in a ninety-
degree angle, palms down.
MODERN DANCE MOVES

STAG TURN
In a Stag Turn, the supporting
knee is slightly bent; the other leg
is up in the air and bent behind
the body. The arm on the
supporting side is thrust straight
back, palms down. Opposite arm
is thrust cleanly forward, palms
down as the dancer turns around.
MODERN DANCE MOVES

PRIMITIVE
SQUAT
A primitive squat is a
hop that lands in a
deep second-position.
The feet are turned out
heel-to-heel and the
knees are bent.
MODERN DANCE MOVES

FLAT BACK
Flat Back is actually a series of moves but
the basic movements makes a “tabletop”
of the body. The dancer stands in second-
position – feet turned out heel-to-heel. The
arms are down along the sides as the body
bends forward from the hips without
breaking the line from the top of the head
to the lower spine. The bend continues
until the entire torso is parallel to the floor.
Then the arms come out from the sides in
MODERN DANCE MOVES

HINGE
In the Hinge, the dancers
balances on the balls of
the feet, keeps a straight
back and send the knees
forward as the torso tilts
back and the arms are
held straight out in front.
MODERN DANCE MOVES

THE
CONTRACTION
Martha Graham loved contractions in
which the mid-section is pulled back
against a movement. The action
begins in the pelvis, and articulates
up the spine as the breath is
exhaled. The dancer aims to
lengthen the space between each
vertebra as the move progresses to
the neck and the head, which are
MODERN DANCE MOVES

THE RELEASE
The Release occurs on the
inhalation and also begins in
the pelvis. The move travels
up the spine in the same order
as the contraction, restoring
the torso to a straight
alignments. It typically
counters the contraction.
MODERN DANCE MOVES

THE HIGH
A RELEASE
High Release, rather than
ending with the spine and upper
body in an upright neutral
position, tilts the breastbone up.
The shoulder blades appear to
rest on a bar or shelf. The head
remains aligned with the spine
and he rib cage remains over the
hips. The lower back is not bent.
Health Benefit of Modern Dance

1. FLEXIBILI 2. STRENGT
TY H
Dancers naturally Strength is defined as a
become more flexible as muscle’s ability to force
a result of dancing against resistance.
because the majority of
dance forms include
bending and stretching
while performing moves.
Health Benefit of Modern Dance

3. ENDURAN 4. SENSE OF
CE WELL-
Studies BEING
The ability of a muscle
to exert its utmost effort have shown that
for progressively longer having strong social
periods of time without connections and spending
becoming exhausted is time with friends promote
known as muscle happiness and high self-
endurance. esteem. Dancing offers
several chances to interact
with others.
Health Benefit of Modern Dance

5. FLEXIBILI
TY
An individual can develop
proper postural alignment and
a way to carry themselves by
routinely engaging in modern
dance workouts.

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