Explore the world of modern dance. Learn what modern dance is, its history and types. Read who the pioneers of modern dance are. See modern dance music and moves.
Updated: 11/15/2021
Exploring the History, Movements & Elements of Modern Dance
Modern Dance
Dance can be used as a direct expression or imitation of a human's soul or society expressed in movement. There are many types of dance, each evolving from its own form in time. Modern dance is a unique form due to the history, contributors, and movements it has represented over time.
Modern dance is a creative type of dance that is contemporary in form and uses abstract movements to portray ideas, feelings, and emotions.
Modern dance evolved from firm foundational movements of ballet. Modern dancers sought out more natural movement than the rigid and strict forms of ballet. Throughout the 20th century, these movements have become more fluid and free in movement. Today modern dance is infused with interpretive movements that may even involve some improvisation. Modern dance has evolved away from the traditional roots of ballet and into the current generation's democratic and independent movement.
What is Modern Dance?
Have you ever thought about why there are different styles of dance? Is it just because people like to move differently, or is there something bigger driving those different styles? For many dancers, dance can tell stories and make statements about society. The dancers who developed modern dance wanted to make a statement about previous limitations of dance and the body. Let's take a look at the evolution of modern dance and some of its major contributors.
Modern dance is a style of dance that developed as a reaction to the strict rules that defined ballet. This is because it emerged at the beginning of the 20th century in a time when ballet had previously dominated the dancing world. While Europe claims the roots of modern dance, the innovations made by dancers in the United States quickly gave a home to the developing dance form.
As a dance form reacting to the constraints and formality of ballet, modern dance developed through the ideals of 20th-century America, such as democracy, social protest, and individuality, disregarding the strict aristocratic roots and conformity from which ballet emerged. This changed the language of dance choreography and the way that dances developed.
You must cCreate an account to continue watching
Register to view this lesson
Are you a student or a teacher?
Create Your Account To Continue Watching
As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed.
Get unlimited access to over 84,000 lessons.
Try it now
It only takes a few minutes to setup and you can cancel any time.
Already registered? Log in here for access
Back
Your next lesson will play in
10 seconds
History of Modern Dance
Modern dance has evolved from the 19th to the 20th century. The evolution and history of modern dance can be traced back to three distinct waves of time. This lesson will explore how modern dance's elements, focus, and movements have transitioned from the first, second, and third waves.
The first wave of modern dance can be traced back to the founders, Ruth Dennis and Isadora Duncan. In the 19th century, modern dance was recognized as "non-traditional" and was inspired by non-western cultures such as Asia, Greece, and Africa. Much of the movement was taken from the artwork and sculptures of these cultures. The style and movement of modern dance were first introduced in Europe but were brought to the forefront when the first school of modern dance, The Denishawn School of Dance and Related Arts, opened in the United States. This introduced audiences around the world to this unconventional and creative way of movement, going against the rigid ways of ballet.
The second wave of modern dance brought new contributions and styles to this new form of dance. Martha Graham is the most well-known pioneer of this era bringing new and natural movements to modern dance. During this time, the focus was on the basic movements of breathing, walking, contracting, and releasing. This wave during the 1930s survived the times of the Great Depression and WWII. The significance of this time, and the raw emotions that many people felt in society due to these events, was reflected in dance. Modern dance was no longer looked at as an abstract dance but was welcomed into the theatrical world as a familiar and respected form and style.
The third wave of dance began in the 1960s and is what we know as modern dance today. African American culture was the main influence of this period. This brought more movements and styles, including jazz and tap, into the forms of modern dance.
The most widespread and known modern dance company of our day is the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, which became popular in New York City in the late 1950s. This American dance company was founded by Alvin Ailey and also led by African American dancers. The Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre revolutionized modern dance and enriched and preserved the African American culture and American heritages through choreography. Although the leader, Alvin Ailey, has since passed, his legacy of this American dance company lives on.
Pioneers of Modern Dance
There are numerous contributors to modern dance; however, only a few made significant changes and contributions throughout the different waves of evolution.
- Isadora Duncan is considered the mother and founder of modern dance. Isadora Duncan truly embodied the wave of modern dance in the way she went against traditional ballet wear and movement. Isadora Duncan was mainly self-taught and truly saw dance as her purpose and passion for communicating societal pressure and telling stories through dance. She developed her own company known as the Isadorables.
 |
- Ruth St. Denis began performing at a very young age. Much of her dance style came from her bohemian upbringing and mimicked her Eastern culture and spiritual realm. She had a famous career as a soloist with the development of erotic movement and style of dance. She opened the Denishawn school of dance with famous pioneer Ted Shawn.
- Loie Fuller was famous in the twentieth century and was most known for her theatrical contributions to skirt dancing. However, she did not have much formal dance training and was skilled in the theatrics of lighting effects and costumes. She was most known for her movement with her arms to create a visual effect for the audience. She went on tour around Europe with other pioneers, Isadora Duncan and Ruth St. Denis.
- Ted Shawn was most famous for developing the all-male dance group at Jacob's Pillow Dance Farm in Massachusetts. He is widely known for producing many more contributors to modern dance, such as Martha Graham. His choreography and composition of techniques were passed down to the future pioneers of modern dance.
- Martha Graham is a major pioneer of modern dance. She is most well known for her piece in the 1930s, Frontier. This was a solo dance and highlighted women's struggle in uncharted territory and domains as they journeyed to the frontier. Martha Graham's works demonstrated and expressed the emotional depth of human beings, especially women. Her legacy lives on with her dance company, the Martha Graham Dance Company.
 |
Types of Modern Dance
Modern dance was derived from the foundational and traditional ways of ballet. Modern dance has evolved into various styles and a culmination of types through the years and different waves.
Some types of modern dance include hip hop, lyrical, freestyle, and fusion. These different types of dance redefine ballet and mix the known styles of tap and jazz into the movements and choreography.
Modern dance can often be confused with jazz dance. Although these two styles of dance are very similar, they are also distinguished in form. Jazz dance highlights more sharp sets of movements, whereas modern dance employs softer shapes and rhythms. Both jazz and modern demonstrate free and fluid movements and have theatrical elements, yet their purpose is not parallel. The music is also very different to match the emotion and mood that both of these dances share. Jazz is more upbeat and fast-paced, whereas modern dance has a slower and emotional tempo and tone.
Basic Moves of Modern Dance
Modern dance is considered an art form. In the different movements and rhythms, stories and art are expressed through this style of dance. The core types of dance moves used in the modern dance world include:
- Curl Down and Up: This movement begins standing, with the feet in a parallel position, and proceeds slowly, bending over, shifting vertebrae by vertebrae. The head moves down towards the toes and with the same slow tempo, the dancer releases the curl and grows like a tree through the spine into an upwards position.
- Leg Swings: This movement is often used to transition from one position to another. The dancer stands in a parallel position with their arms out wide to the side. The dancer bends one knee and swings back and forth slowly and steadily through the front and back of the body.
- Flat Back: This movement requires stability, balance, and flexibility. It is exactly what it sounds like. The spine is bent over in a flat position with the arms facing straight ahead creating a straight line with the back.
- Tendu: This is usually used as a warm-up exercise but can also be used throughout choreographed routines. The feet are once again in parallel position and the foot grazes against the floor forward then back into the parallel position.
- Chase: This is known as a jump in the modern dance world. The dancer begins in a plie stance then shifts their weight in a vertical motion. This can be basic in form but also turn quite complex when spins and other movements are added to this simple jump to move across the stage.
- Space: Exploring space with movement is a key element to this style of dance. Modern dancers explore multiple directions and move fluidly inwardly and outwardly. Modern dancers use the stage as a way to explore space and movement, turning their bodies towards and away from the audience to create a mood for the dance.
- No Boundaries: A boundary is confinement to space. Modern dance is quite the opposite. No boundaries is the known rule of modern dance to improvise and create movement as the dancer goes based on how the body reacts to emotions. No boundaries is the foundation of this style of dance.
Along with the different movements, the style of music is core to creating the expressive and emotional nature of modern dance. Modern dance often uses classical or non-western music. Contemporary dance, which is often confused with being modern dance, uses more popular and lyrical music. Modern dance uses more instrumental and off-brand genre-type music. The movement is often the way a message is communicated onstage rather than through the lyrics of the music.
Lesson Summary
Modern dance is a revolutionized form of dance that gave way to the rigid and strict forms of ballet. There were three waves of modern dance throughout history that have allowed the style and types to evolve. Many pioneers made significant changes and contributions throughout the different waves of evolution, such as:
- Isadora Duncan: considered the mother and founder of modern dance.
- Martha Graham: most well known for her piece in the 1930s, Frontier.
- Alvin Ailey: incorporated African-American themes.
Modern dance uses fluid yet controlled movement sequences to move through space in various directions to convey emotions, stories, and messages through dance. Just as one of the coined dance moves, no boundaries, modern dance truly combines all the different forms of dance such as ballet, tap, and jazz but is unique in the way it is abstract, fluid, and free in both movements and purpose. Today, modern dance lives on in various companies around the world. The works and contributions of the first pioneers of modern dance have left a legacy for the most well-known companies such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Modern dance continues to evolve with the times and has made a mark on the dance world.
Characteristics
- Use of space: While ballet dancers typically face the audience directly, modern dancers use all orientations, even completely turning their back on the audience.
- Relationship to music: In ballet, the dancer's movements correspond harmoniously with the music, but in modern dance, dancers may dance off-beat or in contrast to the music, ignore the music completely, or dance on a silent stage.
- Performers: Contrasting the large casts and strict hierarchy of ballet, modern dance choreographers often also perform. They may work alone or with smaller dance troupes. Women also gained recognition and influence as choreographers.
- Movement: Ballet has a very strictly defined set of movements that get pieced together to create different dances. In modern dance, however, dancers create a new language of movement with every piece, experimenting with how they can manipulate the body.
History of Modern Dance
The history of modern dance can be divided into three periods. The first period began at the turn of the century, around 1900; the second phase emerged during the interwar period, around 1930; and the third took root after World War II, around 1945. Historical social changes influenced each evolution of modern dance, which we call the ''waves''.
1. First Wave
Modern dance of the early 20th century sought to distance itself from the formulaic spectacle of ballet and achieve more ''natural'' movement. Dancers during this time also looked to non-Western cultures for inspiration, such as ancient Greek sculpture and African and Asian cultures.
Isadora Duncan, considered the inventor of modern dance, implemented these ideals by dancing barefoot, letting her hair flow freely, letting gravity and her breathing guide her movements, and dancing in a simple, unrestrictive tunic.
Ruth St. Denis believed that dance could transcend into the spiritual realm and experimented with dance forms that derived from Asia, India, and Egypt, especially drawing on religious influences from those regions.
2. Second Wave
In the 1930s, the second wave of modern dance looked to internal sources of movement rather than external ones, transforming the natural act of walking, for example, into dance. During this period, artists began developing and codifying new dance techniques.
Doris Humphrey, an iconic dancer of this period, developed a dance technique called ''fall and recovery'' that was inspired by the human footfall, giving into and rebounding from gravity. This style of dance came to represent the idea of an individual and her relationship to a greater force, such as social expectations, and how one endures and recovers from social pressures.
Martha Graham's early solo work was considered ugly and obscure. Much of her work comments explicitly on the social circumstances of women, such as Frontier, which explores a woman's struggle to navigate the uncharted frontier, and Night Journey, which explores the Oedipus myth with Jacosta at the center instead of her son.
3. Third Wave
Like many art forms after World War II, modern dance began borrowing and combining aspects from many previous artistic movements. This third wave of modern dance incorporated styles of early modern dance, social dances, and even some aspects of ballet. This period introduced more abstract and avant-garde movements as well, often focusing on form rather than theme or idea.
Merce Cunningham was an innovative and influential choreographer of this period, often organizing movement based on chance, choosing music independent of the choreography, focusing on the abstract sense of time and space devoid of emotional subtext, and characterizing the dance by abrupt contrasts in movement style or mood. This method of choreography meant that Cunningham's dances were very abstract and based on form rather than narrative.
Alvin Ailey created a company that made African-American and Asian dancers more visible. His dances drew on jazz, ballet, and African dance, and often presented themes that related to racialized experiences. Unlike early modern dance, Ailey included elaborate costuming and used his dances in a more narrative fashion to tell the stories of African-American struggles.
Lesson Summary
Let's take a couple of moments to review. Modern dance is a style of dance that developed as a reaction to the strict rules that defined ballet. It departed from ballet in the way that dancers used space (not always facing the audience); in the dancer's relationship to music (not always dancing on beat); by departing from the choreographer/performer separation so that choreographers also performed; and through movement in which each dance was creating a new language of dance.
Isadora Duncan and Ruth St. Denis were two of modern dance's earliest innovators, seeking more ''natural'' movements. Doris Humphrey and Martha Graham were part of the second evolution of modern dance in the 1930s, exploring the spiritual and social circumstances of people in the world. And Merce Cunningham and Alvin Ailey made great strides in the third period of modern dance, working primarily after 1945 and combining multiple forms of dance that preceded them.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Video Transcript
What is Modern Dance?
Have you ever thought about why there are different styles of dance? Is it just because people like to move differently, or is there something bigger driving those different styles? For many dancers, dance can tell stories and make statements about society. The dancers who developed modern dance wanted to make a statement about previous limitations of dance and the body. Let's take a look at the evolution of modern dance and some of its major contributors.
Modern dance is a style of dance that developed as a reaction to the strict rules that defined ballet. This is because it emerged at the beginning of the 20th century in a time when ballet had previously dominated the dancing world. While Europe claims the roots of modern dance, the innovations made by dancers in the United States quickly gave a home to the developing dance form.
As a dance form reacting to the constraints and formality of ballet, modern dance developed through the ideals of 20th-century America, such as democracy, social protest, and individuality, disregarding the strict aristocratic roots and conformity from which ballet emerged. This changed the language of dance choreography and the way that dances developed.
Characteristics
- Use of space: While ballet dancers typically face the audience directly, modern dancers use all orientations, even completely turning their back on the audience.
- Relationship to music: In ballet, the dancer's movements correspond harmoniously with the music, but in modern dance, dancers may dance off-beat or in contrast to the music, ignore the music completely, or dance on a silent stage.
- Performers: Contrasting the large casts and strict hierarchy of ballet, modern dance choreographers often also perform. They may work alone or with smaller dance troupes. Women also gained recognition and influence as choreographers.
- Movement: Ballet has a very strictly defined set of movements that get pieced together to create different dances. In modern dance, however, dancers create a new language of movement with every piece, experimenting with how they can manipulate the body.
History of Modern Dance
The history of modern dance can be divided into three periods. The first period began at the turn of the century, around 1900; the second phase emerged during the interwar period, around 1930; and the third took root after World War II, around 1945. Historical social changes influenced each evolution of modern dance, which we call the ''waves''.
1. First Wave
Modern dance of the early 20th century sought to distance itself from the formulaic spectacle of ballet and achieve more ''natural'' movement. Dancers during this time also looked to non-Western cultures for inspiration, such as ancient Greek sculpture and African and Asian cultures.
Isadora Duncan, considered the inventor of modern dance, implemented these ideals by dancing barefoot, letting her hair flow freely, letting gravity and her breathing guide her movements, and dancing in a simple, unrestrictive tunic.
Ruth St. Denis believed that dance could transcend into the spiritual realm and experimented with dance forms that derived from Asia, India, and Egypt, especially drawing on religious influences from those regions.
2. Second Wave
In the 1930s, the second wave of modern dance looked to internal sources of movement rather than external ones, transforming the natural act of walking, for example, into dance. During this period, artists began developing and codifying new dance techniques.
Doris Humphrey, an iconic dancer of this period, developed a dance technique called ''fall and recovery'' that was inspired by the human footfall, giving into and rebounding from gravity. This style of dance came to represent the idea of an individual and her relationship to a greater force, such as social expectations, and how one endures and recovers from social pressures.
Martha Graham's early solo work was considered ugly and obscure. Much of her work comments explicitly on the social circumstances of women, such as Frontier, which explores a woman's struggle to navigate the uncharted frontier, and Night Journey, which explores the Oedipus myth with Jacosta at the center instead of her son.
3. Third Wave
Like many art forms after World War II, modern dance began borrowing and combining aspects from many previous artistic movements. This third wave of modern dance incorporated styles of early modern dance, social dances, and even some aspects of ballet. This period introduced more abstract and avant-garde movements as well, often focusing on form rather than theme or idea.
Merce Cunningham was an innovative and influential choreographer of this period, often organizing movement based on chance, choosing music independent of the choreography, focusing on the abstract sense of time and space devoid of emotional subtext, and characterizing the dance by abrupt contrasts in movement style or mood. This method of choreography meant that Cunningham's dances were very abstract and based on form rather than narrative.
Alvin Ailey created a company that made African-American and Asian dancers more visible. His dances drew on jazz, ballet, and African dance, and often presented themes that related to racialized experiences. Unlike early modern dance, Ailey included elaborate costuming and used his dances in a more narrative fashion to tell the stories of African-American struggles.
Lesson Summary
Let's take a couple of moments to review. Modern dance is a style of dance that developed as a reaction to the strict rules that defined ballet. It departed from ballet in the way that dancers used space (not always facing the audience); in the dancer's relationship to music (not always dancing on beat); by departing from the choreographer/performer separation so that choreographers also performed; and through movement in which each dance was creating a new language of dance.
Isadora Duncan and Ruth St. Denis were two of modern dance's earliest innovators, seeking more ''natural'' movements. Doris Humphrey and Martha Graham were part of the second evolution of modern dance in the 1930s, exploring the spiritual and social circumstances of people in the world. And Merce Cunningham and Alvin Ailey made great strides in the third period of modern dance, working primarily after 1945 and combining multiple forms of dance that preceded them.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the types of modern dances?
There are different types of modern dances. Jazz, modern, and ballet are all types of dances, but modern dance combines these forms. Types of modern dances include lyrical or contemporary dance.
How would you describe modern dance?
Modern dance is a creative type of dance that is contemporary in form and uses abstract movements to portray ideas, feelings, and emotions. Modern dance uses a variety of movements, such as no boundaries and the use of space to formulate a unique style.
What are examples of modern dance?
Some examples of modern dance include hip hop, lyrical, style and fusion. Modern dance can sometimes be confused with contemporary dance or jazz dance.
Who started modern dance?
There are many important contributors to modern dance. The founder of modern dance is Isadora Duncan. Ruth St. Dennis is also one of the first pioneers of modern dance.
What is the history of modern dance?
Three historical waves can summarize the history of modern dance from the 19th century to the 20th century. It evolved and revolutionized away from ballet dance from the founder of modern dance, Isadora Duncan.
Register to view this lesson
Are you a student or a teacher?
Unlock Your Education
See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Log In
BackModern Dance | History, Moves & Types
Related Study Materials
Explore our library of over 84,000 lessons
Browse by subject