MODERN DANCE IS. . .
Modern dance developed in the early part of the twentieth century as a revolt against the stylized formality of ballet. Modern dance is often concerned with the communication of emotions or ideas through movement; sometimes it is concerned simply with movement itself.
Modern dance is a living, growing, changing art form. There are no established steps or patterns. Modern dancers search for a way of using natural movement as a means of expressing themselves.
Some of the early pioneers in modern dance were Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn, Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. Well known modern dancers today include Karen Jamieson, Judith Marcuse and Anna Wyman, Alvin Ailey, Twyla Tharp & Trisha Brown.
The vocabulary of modern dance is not as standardized as the classical ballet vocabulary. However, the basic elements of movement are space, time and force. These elements are defined below. It is this vocabulary, when understood and explored, that students use to create and enjoy dance! *
DANCE ELEMENTS
THE CONCEPT OF SPACE
Place – self, general, positive, negative empty
Levels – high, medium, low
Size – big, medium, small, near reach, far reach
Direction – forwards, backwards, left, right, up down
Pathway – straight, curved, zig zag
Focus – single focus, multi focus =
THE CONCEPT OF TIME
Speed – fast, slow, medium
Rhythm – even, uneven, pulse, pattern, breath
THE CONCEPT OF FORCE
Weight- strong, light
Quality- sharp (sudden), smooth (sustained)
THE CONCEPT OF FORM
Flow – free, bound
Recurring Theme – canon, round, theme
ABA – a = one phrase, b = different.
Abstract – a geometric form
Narrative – in the form of a story
Broken Form – unrelated ideas
Suite – 3 parts, medium, slow, fast
THE CONCEPT OF BODY
Parts- head, neck, arms, wrists, elbows, fingers, spine,
trunk, legs, knees, feet, toes, ankles, heels, shoulders
Shape- curvy, straight, angular, twisted, wide, narrow
Relationships – over/under, on/off, in/out, left/right,
near/far, above/below, around/through, unison/contrast
body parts to body parts, individuals to groups,
body parts to objects, alone/connected, beside/
between, individuals or groups to objects, etc.
Balance – on balance, off balance
THE CONCEPT OF MOVEMENT
Locomotor
walk, run, jump, hop, leap, gallop, slide,
skip, crawl, roll, etc.
combined – step-hop, waltz run, jop,
schottische, two-step, grapevine, creep,
prance, slither, etc.
Non locomotor
bend, twist, stretch, swing, push, pull,
fall, melt, sway, turn, spin, dodge, kick,
poke, lift, carve, curl, lunge, slash, dab,
punch, flick, float, glide, press, wring,
shake, rise, sink, burst, wiggle, etc.
* References – Creative Dance For All Ages, by Anne Green Gilbert
– Modern Dance – An Adult Beginners Guide, by Natalie Willman Duffy