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Historically, there are two different meanings for the term "Modern Dance." Originally, the term came
from the early 20th. Century meaning that the dances (Ballroom type) being done were modern in nature, rather than the older
Quadrilles, Two
Step, Minuet etc. of the time. These "Modern Dances" were generally
associated with Vernon and Irene Castle, Maurice
Mouvet and Florence Walton and others who were ballroom dancers of the time (1910s.)
Today the term means something different however.
This term 'Modern Dance' designates a concept of dance rather
than a particular dance School or dance Studio. By the 1920's
it was done by a solo or group - a free form type dance with no
base in its beginnings but utilized many other styles of dance
movement (originally Greek and Oriental,) as well as indigenous
and the dancers personal feelings leading to movement.
Isadora
Duncan (1887-1927) was to become the mother of (current day)
freeform style called 'Modern Dance' and by 1913 had reached international
fame with others following suit. |
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new free form style was thought ridiculous at first but Duncan's
success with this style in America opened many eyes along with
other pioneers such as and Ruth
St. Denis (1878-1968), Rudolf Van Laban and Mary Wigman who
would become the primary movers of this style of dance and helped
create a new Style of dancing. Others to follow and add more to
the ever growing style were such dancers as Hanya Holm (1893-1992),
Ted
Shawn (1891-1972), Doris Humphrey, Charles Weidman (1901-1975),
Martha
Graham (1894-1991), Valerie Bettis (1919-1982), Jose
Limon and Helen Tamiris (1905-1966), Tórtola Valencia
(1908-1930) with her 'Natural Dance' (in no particular order.)
The Modern dance form came to
be due to the restrictions on the ballet
dancers at the time or to "release the dancer from explicit
and locked definition" but today modern dance is very recognizable
thru its forms, base and techniques. The dancers use their natural
instincts, impulses, a release of natural feeling when moving
or a "firstness." The dancer tries to release the inner
feelings in an outer expression. It works some what of the 'Ying
and Yang' and or 'Contrast' teachings of opposites, such as Up/Down,
Left /Right, Contraction/Release, Fall/Recover, Fast/Slow etc.
The body is the instrument for self indulged expression.
Modern dance avoids any set bases or a set
vocabulary of steps such as ballet or Oriental,
Hindu etc. but does use all these ideas along with the dancers
natural ability and dance training (Its kinda like a free for
all or 'on the spot type choreography' or the
"Im'a Tree".) Because of this, Modern dance is
often misunderstood by the onlooker, as occasionally they can
not figure out what is happening. By the 1950s, Modern dance was
firmly established in the dance world.
Modern dance is said to be based on four principles:
1) Substance (movement)
2) Dynamism,
3) Metakinesis,
4) Form (not dependent on music.)
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