Classical ballet originated in Italy during the Renaissance and is characterized by structured positions and steps that tell a story through different styles of classical music. However, it also has negative aspects like promoting eating disorders and low pay for the large amount of work required. Modern dance emerged in the 20th century and centers on a dancer's own interpretations through emotions and improvisation rather than strict steps. Isadora Duncan is considered the "mother of modern dance" and pioneered a more natural and free style of dance, while Martha Graham illustrated visions through jarring movements of the body. Merce Cunningham further expanded dance through collaborations with John Cage using chance procedures and abandoned conventional elements. Alvin Ailey popularized modern dance and incorporated

1. Dance
Cece Shmyr, Kelsey Bunyak, Amanda Temple

2. Classical Ballet

3. Classical Ballet
• Created in Italy during Renaissance period
(1500s)
• Characteristics:
– Structured positions and steps
– Tells a story
– Different styles
– Classical music

4. Negative Aspects
• Eating disorders=very common
“the only way to succeed is to be thin”
• Competitive
– Very large industry
– Only few make it to be very widely successful
– More successful if independent
• Low pay
– Doesn’t even out to the amount of work put in

5. Classical Ballet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MUi4w0Q
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6. Modern Dance

7. Modern Dance
•Refers to 20th century concert
dance
•Centers on a dancer's own
interpretations instead of
structured steps
•Encourages dancers to use
emotions and moods to design
their own steps and routines
•Focused on elements such as floor
work, fall and recovery, and
improvisation

8. Isadora Duncan

9. Isadora Duncan
• “Mother of modern dance”
• Started dancing at 6 years old
• Was taught to “listen to the
music with her soul” from her
mother
• Her mother instilled Isadora’s
love for the arts
• Dance took a priority over
formal education

10. Isadora’s Dance Technique
• Did not believe in the formality of
conventional ballet
• Invented a more “free” form of dance
• Barefoot dance in simple Greek apparel
• Founded the “new system” of interpretive
dance
• Blended together poetry, music, and the
rhythm of nature

11. “The dancer of the future will be one whole
body and soul grown so harmoniously together
that the natural language of that soul will have
become the movement of the human body. The
dancer will not belong to any nation but to all
humanity.” –Isadora Duncan

12. Isadora Duncan
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq2GgIM
M060

13. Martha Graham

14. Martha Graham
• Born in Pennsylvania
• Influenced by father
– Specialized in physical movements
to remedy nervous disorders
– Believed body could express inner
senses
• Illustrated visions through
jarring, violent, spastic &
trembling movements
• Compared to
Picasso, Stravinsky, and Frank
Lloyd Wrights

15. “Frontier” 1976
• Use of the floor as a plane
for expressive movement
• Use of costume to evoke a
setting, to imply a
character
• Exploration of national
identity through the eyes
of archetypal characters
from history

16. Appalachian Spring- 1944

17. • http://youtu.be/xgf3xgbKYko
– Demonstrates the emotional part of Martha’s work
– “There is always one person who you truly peak to
in the audience”

18. Merce Cunningham
• Began study at age 12
• Born in Centralia Washington
• attended Martha Graham’s dance
company
• Influenced by partner- John Cage
• Intrigued by random phenomena as
determinants of structure
• Dances vary greatly in mood but
are frequently characterized by
abrupt changes and contrast in
movement

19. Merce Cunningham
• Neighbor Maude Barrett introduced dance to Merce
• Expanded the frontiers of dance
• Attended Cornish School of Fine and Applied Arts- 2 years
• Studied at Mills College
• Joined Martha’s company (left 1945)
• Worked with John Cage- life partner (1940’s)
– Extensive use of chance procedures, abandoned music
forms and narrative & other conventional elements of
dance
• Opened Merce Cunningham Dance company (1953)
• Invented dance on film (1970’s)
• John died in (1992)

20. Merce Cunningham Achievements
• National Medal of Arts (1990)
• Explored motion capture technology
• Japan’s Premium Imperiale (2005)
• Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award (2009)
• Named Officer of the Legion d’Honneur
(2004)

21. Alvin Ailey
• African American modern
dance
• Made use of any
combination of dance
techniques that best suited
the theatrical moment
• Kept his life as a dancer a
secret from his mother for
the first two years

22. Alvin Ailey
• Founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance
Theatre in NYC
• Credited with popularizing modern dance
• Revolutionized African-American participation
in modern dancing
• His company gained the nickname "Cultural
Ambassador to the World”

23. Alvin Ailey
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=play
er_detailpage&v=vu9dQcefHSc
– Different types of movement
– More intense movements

24. Todays Most Popular Choreographers
Mia Michaels
Lisa Giobbi
Victor Smalley
Sonya Tayeh

25. Mia Michaels
–3 Emmy Nominations
–I Emmy
–Most sought our choreographer worldwide

26. Mia Michaels
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38XIFZLlIi
M&list=PLD240B800296D85DA
*Considered one of her top 10 choreographed
dances

27. Sonya Tayeh
• Born and raised in
Detroit Michigan
• American dancer and
choreographer
• guest judge on the
television series So You
Think You Can Dance
since season four

28. Sonya Tayeh
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2YrkpxG
WKg

29. Costume Changes
• Costumes have become much simpler

30. A Revolution in Movement
Traditional Ballet Modern Ballet

31. Key Differences
(between ballet and modern dance)
• Modern dance doesn’t usually tell a story
• Ballet was created for aesthetic appeal
• Modern dance was created for emotional appeal
• Ballet costumes are more extravagant and
elaborate