Need-to-know Guide Explaining Modern Dance

By Author: Rio Spelling
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There is a wealth of dance styles that have evolved in different cultures and eras, and all of them have their own unique characteristics. As a life-long dance enthusiast, I am interested in them all. One of my favourite UK based choreographers however is Craig Revel Horwood(most broadly known by the public here as a Strictly Come Dancing judge) – his productions are a unique blend of dance expressions that always have an original flair to them.
The following guide will explore a particular genre called modern dance, so you can decide whether this style suits your individual preferences.
Introducing Modern Dance
In a nutshell, modern dance evolved as a rebellion by European dancers in the 1900's to the strict rules and limitations imposed by classical ballet. They were pioneers who often danced bare foot and in revealing costumes that allowed their body movements to talk in new ways.
Modern dance focuses predominantly on the expression of your inner feelings, with an emphasis on creativity in choreography and performance.
Relatively ...
... new, modern dance started coming into its own in the early 20th century. It is known for being a dance style that primarily relies on a dancer's own interpretations as opposed to more structured steps.
Key Characteristics
Modern dancers favour a looser, freer, more relaxed style than the rigidly structured techniques, costumes and shoes of ballet. They are encouraged by their teachers to use their emotions and moods to create their own unique steps and routines.
Before attempting to choreograph a new routine, modern dancers decide which emotions they want to convey to the audience. They will also often choose music that relates to the story they want to tell, or choose to use no music at all.
Another important characteristic of modern dance in contrast to ballet is the deliberate use of gravity. As opposed to classical ballet dancers who strive to be light and airy on their feet, modern dancers often use their body weight to enhance movement. In addition, modern dancers reject the classical ballet stance of an upright, formal, erect body - they often even deliberately fall to the floor and contort their bodies in new ways.
Evolution
In Europe, it was pioneers such as Francois Delsarte, Mary Wigman, Émile Jaques-Dalcroze and Rudolf von Laban who developed new theories of human movement and expression, as well as fresh methods of instruction. This led to the evolution of European modern and Expressionist dance. The theories and techniques of these icons then spread beyond Europe to influence the development of modern dance and also theatre. Subsequent generations of teachers and performers carried these ideas and methods to the UK, Russia, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Martha Graham is revered as one of the foremost inventors of American modern dance. She developed her very own language of movement in order to express the passion, rage and ecstasy of the human condition. She also developed a new dance technique that was similar to classical ballet, but differing in that it focused heavily on basic human movements.
Conclusion
The above guide gives you a key overview of modern dance. Whether this loose, emotionally fuelled method of dance strikes your fancy, or you prefer to perfect a more structured style that would get the nod of approval from professional choreographer Craig Revel Horwoodon Strictly, dancing is both great fun and an excellent way to keep fit.
Author Bio : Rio Spelling is a choreography and dance enthusiast