20th Century Flashcards
Location of summer dance festivals where “the 4 pioneers” taught
Bennington College
Known for her dances based on Negro spirituals (1930s_
Helen Tamiris
Pioneer highly influenced by Mary Wigman
Hanya Holm
Wrote “Pre-Classic Dance Forms”
Louis Horst
Choreographer of “Apollo” and “Agon” - he transformed ballet in the 20th century
George Balanchine
Choreographed “Fall River Legend”
Agnes deMille
Developed modern dance technique based on African-American, Caribbean, African and South American movement styles
Katherine Dunham
Dazzling virtuostic technical defector from USSR, he went from ABT for NYCB back to ABT
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Modern dance pioneer known for choreography that celebrated the incongruities of human encounters
Charles Weidman
Wrote “Dancing On My Grave”
Gelsey Kirkland
Judson Church exponent known for contact improvisation work
Steve Paxton
Developed modern dance technique based on contraction and release, using breathing and oppositional forces
Martha Graham
Author of “The Art of Making Dances”
Doris Humphrey
Established and directed the African Performing Arts Center in Monrovia, Liberia
Pearl Primus
American Ballerina known for her ability to perform dramatic roles (i.e. Hagar in “Pillar of Fire”
Nora Kaye
Austro-Hungarian who developed dance notation form in use today
Rudolf Laban
Her choreography tends to simply stop or just “….fade away….” at the end
Anna Sokolow
The first renowned Native American ballerina
Maria Tallchief
Minimalist, repetitive choreography; collaborator of Steve Reich
Laura Dean
She did everything he did in the movies- only backwards, in a long dress, and high heels
Ginger Rogers
choreographed “The Green Table”
Kurt Jooss
Creator of a technique still used by the Ailey company; established the first integrated dance company in Los Angeles, CA
Lester Horton
Prof. Iannacone worked with him for a long time; established a long-lived company at the Henry Street Settlement
Alwin Nikolais
Developed modern dance technique that emphasized a floating, effortless quality filled with imagery
Erick Hawkins
the company originated when its members- all male non dancers- created a unique work using weight sharing. Matthew Thornton is a long-time member and creator for this company
Pilobolus
Summer training school for modern dancers established adter WWII- it was a mecca for modern teachers
Connecticut College
Dance educator who wrote “Creating Through Dance”
Alma Hawkins
Film dancer known for debonaire, suave ballroom and tap style
Fred Astaire
Composer collaborator with Merce Cunningham
John Cage
Choreographed “Fancy Free”
Jerome Robbins
Her works evolved from “happenings” to rituals to dance as healing art
Anna Halprin
Performance artist who is a musician as well as movement creator; created contemporary operas
Meredith Monk
One of the original founders and directors of Ballet Theatre, which would later become ABT
Lucia Chase
Film dancer known for his “everyman” masculine jazz/tap style
Gene Kelly
Founder of “Moving Earth”
Kei Takei
Choreographed “The Moor’s Pavane”
Jose Limon
Collaborater of John Cage, he is known for exploring chance dances and creating events
Merce Cunningham
Scholar, patron, impresario, writer, dance historian instrumental in developing American ballet
Lincoln Kirstein
Critic and dance proponent who wrote “The Modern Dance”
Peter Martins
choreographed the seminal “Trio A”
Yvonne Rainer
Depression era program that provided theater professionals with work
The Federal Theater Project
The “Eugene O’Neill” of American ballet
Antony Tudor
USSR defector who formed a famous partnership with Margot Fonteyn
Rudolf Nureyev
Influential choreographer with unique movement style- a “synergy of light, ballet springing movements with glimpses of Graham technique”
Paul Taylor
Founder of Dance Theatre of Harlem
Arthur Mitchell
Choreographed “Revelations”
Alvin Ailey
She defected from the USSR, joined ABT, and received a Tony for her performance in the revival of “On Your Toes”
Natalia Makarova
Spawning ground for avant-garde dance in NYC during the 1960s and 1970s
Judson Church
Founder of company that featured revivals of 20th century ballet classics as well as new works by Arpino. Ms. Smith was a member of this company
Robert Joffrey
Foundation est by Standard Oil heiress; although a ballet company was briefly supported through this organization, it is the school and the dance-medicine work of the Foundation that has proved most influential in the dance world
Harkness Foundation
