Modern, Post-Modern & Contemporary Dance / Presentation: Mia, Arden, Josh, Abby

April 17, 2024

Unit: Modern Era

Theme: Modern and Post-Modern Dance

Introduction

Modern dance is a broad genre of western concert or theatrical dance which includes dance styles such as ballet, folk, ethnic, religious, and social dancing. Postmodern dance, on the other hand, is a 20th century concert dance form that came into popularity in the early 1960s. While the term "postmodern" took on a different meaning when used to describe dance, the dance form did take inspiration from the ideologies of the wider postmodern movement, which "sought to deflate what it saw as overly pretentious and ultimately self-serving modernist views of art and the artist" [1] and was, more generally, a departure from modernist ideals.

Lacking stylistic homogeneity, Postmodern dance was discerned mainly by its anti-modern dance sentiments rather than by its dance style. The dance form was a reaction to the compositional and presentational constraints of the preceding generation of modern dancers, hailing the use of everyday movement as valid performance art and advocating for unconventional methods of dance composition.

Lastly, Contemporary dance [2] is a genre that developed during the mid-twentieth century and has since grown to become one of the dominant genres for formally trained dancers throughout the world, with particularly strong popularity in the U.S. and Europe. Contemporary dance was originally informed by classical, modern and jazz styles, but it has come to incorporate elements from many other styles of dance.[2] Due to its technical similarities, it is often perceived to be closely related to modern dance, ballet, and other classical concert dance styles.

Learning Objectives

Understand the main characteristics of Modern, Postmodern and Contemporary Dance
Explain relationship between the three genres
Gain an awareness of the influence of other dances of the three genres
Experience dancing three phrases in which the concept of the genres is applied

III

Main Lesson

Presentations

Major Modern Dance Techniques

Graham

Martha Graham developed a whole technique that allowed her to recreate ancient stories such as Oedipus. Her technique contraction and release of the torso gave dancers new tools for expression.

Horton

https://youtu.be/QoxiQRlGWvM

Question 1

In min 32:00, what is the importance of the figure 4 for the modern dancer?

(min. 5:00)

Limon

Dunham

Question 2

After reading about modern dance and watching the different artists who represent that movement, summarize in a paragraph the main aspects of each one of the main techniques studied in modern dance.

POST-MODERN

Terpsychore in Sneakers

Read the Introduction

Question 3

What are the main characteristics of post-modern dance.

Contemporary Dance

Contemporary dance is the result of influences from classical ballet and modern dance. On the other hand, Postmodern dance was a response to modern dance's focus on technique and presentational performances. Referred to as the first choreographer to "develop an independent attitude towards modern dance", Merce Cunningham [4][5] create original work. For instance, in 1944 Cunningham accompanied his dance with music by John Cage, a precursor of sound as music. In 1953, Cunningham formed the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. He choreographed more than one hundred and fifty works for his company.

Cunningham's key ideas

Contemporary dance does refuse the classical ballet's leg technique in favor of modern dance's stress on the torso
Contemporary dance is not necessarily narrative form of art
Choreography that appears disordered, but nevertheless relies on technique
Unpredictable changes in rhythm, speed, and direction
Multiple and simultaneous actions
Suspension of perspective and symmetry in ballet scenic frame perspective such as front, center, and hierarchies
Creative freedom
Independence between dance and music
Dance to be danced, not analyzed
Innovative lighting, sets, and costumes in collaboration with Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Jasper Johns

Question 4

Cunningham created the concept of "chance" in dance. This concept was applied when the dancers in his company would dance to music they never heard before performing. Which of the key ideas listed above do you think applies to "chance"? Explain.

A Note to Remember

Dance has never stopped existing.

Case Studies