Final Exam Flashcards
Describe Modern Dance?
- Main purpose was to serveas freedom.
- Based on natural movement and expression
- Broke away from classical ballet and formalism.
- Looked for NEW ways of expression.
Who is Francoise Delsarte?
- He was a forerunner of modern dance.
- Successful singer but lost his voice because of bad training.
- That led him to search for other ways to convey feelings/ideas through the body.
- Used arms and torso theatrically to project emotions.
Who is Emile Jacques Dal Croze?
- Swiss music teacher and composer who originated the eurythmics system of musical instruction.
- Had NO interest in the emotional possibilities of movement
Who is Loie Fuller? What did she contribute?
- Fuller was a pioneer of both modern dance and theatrical lighting techniques.
- Known for her use of scarves and light to transform the body.
- Influenced by Duncan and St. Denis
Discuss Isadora Duncan:
her life
her inspirations
her contributions?
- Forerunner of Modern dance
- Had no formal background to dance but responded great to movement
- Outkast, outspoken and very controversial for doing whatever she wanted.
- Her inspirations were nature, ancient greek ideals.
- She was a inspirations to people like Nijinsky, fokine, among many others.
- She didn’t like the camera,very little footage.
Who is Ruth St. Denis? Where did she find inspiration? What did she contribute?
- She was a New Jersey farm girl
- She found inspiration in orient and Asian culture, was able to capitvate many americans with the mystic faith.
- Once she married Ted Shawn she contributed the Denishawn School of dance which was very successful in los angeles.
Discuss Ted Shawn significant contributions to dance?
- He studied to be a minister
- Fell in love with modern dance and shortly in love with Ruth
- He was a great buisness man
- He married Ruth St. Denis and they formed the Denishawn company together.
- As they split he formed his own school and touring company called “Ted Shawn and His men dancers”
- Choreographed “Polonaise”
Discuss the Denishawn school and company?
-The company was commercially very successful.
-At one point Shawn reported their income @ $200,000
a year
-The school required thorough training and they trained outside
-They did ballet, barefoot, and they did every conceivable ethnic dance they could find.
What are music visualizations?
- Making music visible with movement.
- no story line, just making thoughts feelings and structure of music visible
- As shown in soaring.
What are 3 important modern dancers that came from Denishawn school?
- Martha Graham-contract and release technique.
- Doris Humphrey-fall and recover technique
- Charles Weidman- gifts of warmth,humor and wit..made a company with Doris.
Discuss Mary Wigman?
German dancer, choreographer, notable as the pioneer of expressionist dance, dance therapy, and movement training without pointe shoes.
-Did what was known as the witch dances.
Who is Helen Tamiris?
- Jewish Russian immigrant
- concerned with social injustice.
- She was a vibrant and dynamic dancer
- choreographed “negro spirituals”
Who is Martha Graham? Discuss style,technique, themes, important to her contribution?
- She was known as the mother of modern dance.
- Choreographed: Lamentations, Appalachian spring
- Was known for her contract and release technique.
- Her father taught her that the body never lies.
- Her work was sharp and angular and it reflected her strict upbringing.
- She didnt start dancing until her father passes away.
Who is Doris Humphrey? contributions, technique…
- She created her own dance company with Charles Weidman
- Her technique was “fall and recover”
- Her dances were very lyrical
Who is Charles Weidman?
- He was warm, humorous, and witty.
- Created a dance company with Doris Humphrey.
- Charles Weidman is a renowned choreographer, modern dancer and teacher. He is well known as one of the pioneers of Modern Dance in America.
Discuss Ktherine Dunham- her life, work, contributions?
- She had a Ph.D in anthropology - she traveled to the carbines and studied Hacian and social/ritual dances.
- Her special contribution was the “articulated torso” rather than having a straight torso(euro,ballet,folk) she had articulation of various parts of torso.
