NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Modern dance in the United States

Closely related to the development of American music in the early 20th century was the emergence of a new, and distinctively American, art form -- modern dance. Among the early innovators was Isadora Duncan (1878-1927), who stressed pure, unstructured movement in lieu of the positions of classical ballet. Closely related to the development of American music in the early 20th century was the emergence of a new, and distinctively American, art form -- modern dance. ... Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. ... Portrait photograph by Arnold Genthe. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar). ...

The main line of development, however, runs from the dance company of Ruth St. Denis (1878-1968) and her husband-partner, Ted Shawn (1891-1972). Her pupil Doris Humphrey (1895-1958) looked outward for inspiration, to society and human conflict. Another pupil of St. Denis, Martha Graham (1893-1991), whose New York-based company became perhaps the best known in modern dance, sought to express an inward-based passion. Many of Graham's most popular works were produced in collaboration with leading American composers -- "Appalachian Spring" with Aaron Copland, for example. Ruth St. ... 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday. ... Ted Shawn (1891 to 1972) was a key figure, and the only male figure, in the founding period of modern dance. ... Year 1891 (MDCCCXCI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... Doris Batcheller Humphrey (October 17, 1895 - December 29, 1958) was a famous dancer of the early twentieth century. ... 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Martha Graham and Bertram Ross in Visionary Recital, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1961 Martha Graham (May 11, 1894 â€“ April 1, 1991), an American dancer and choreographer, is known as one of the foremost pioneers of modern dance. ... Year 1893 (MDCCCXCIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... New York, NY redirects here. ... Aaron Copland (November 14, 1900 â€“ December 2, 1990) was an American composer of concert and film music. ...

Later choreographers searched for new methods of dance composition. Merce Cunningham (1919- ) introduced chance procedures and composition by field. Alvin Ailey (1931-1989) incorporated African dance elements and black music into his works. Recently such choreographers as Mark Morris (1956- ) and Liz Lerman (1947-) have defied the convention that dancers must be thin and young. Their belief, put into action in their hiring practices and performances, is that graceful, exciting movement is not restricted by age or body type. Merce Cunningham (born April 16, 1919 in Centralia, Washington, United States) is an American dancer and choreographer. ... Alvin Ailey, Jr. ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. ... Mark Morris Mark Morris (born: August 29, 1956) is an American modern dancer and choreographer whose work is acclaimed for its craftsmanship, ingenuity, humor, and at times eclectic musical accompaniments. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ...

See also

Categories: Dance in the United States | Contemporary dance Graffiti and street art emerged in New York as part of the Zoo York subculture in the 1970s. ... For other uses, see Dance (disambiguation). ... The following dance categories are closely related to each other: Folk dance Folk dance is a term used to encompass a large number of dances that tend to share the following attributes: They were originally danced in about the 19th century or earlier (or are, in any case, not currently... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Square dance is often used as a general term for modern Western square dance. ... Wikibooks has more about this subject: Swing Dancing The term swing dance is commonly used to refer either to a group of dances developing to the evolving Jazz music during the Jazz a. ... Jazz dance has two meanings, depending on the era. ... Tap dance was born in the United States during the 19th century, and today is popular all around the world. ... This USPS stamp depicts an 80s breakdancer and a boombox. ... Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. ... It has been suggested that Electronic dance music be merged into this article or section. ...