Final Exam Flashcards
1
Q
Describe Modern Dance?
A
- 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.
2
Q
Who is Francoise Delsarte?
A
- 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.
3
Q
Who is Emile Jacques Dal Croze?
A
- Swiss music teacher and composer who originated the eurythmics system of musical instruction.
- Had NO interest in the emotional possibilities of movement
4
Q
Who is Loie Fuller? What did she contribute?
A
- 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
5
Q
Discuss Isadora Duncan:
her life
her inspirations
her contributions?
A
- 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.
6
Q
Who is Ruth St. Denis? Where did she find inspiration? What did she contribute?
A
- 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.
7
Q
Discuss Ted Shawn significant contributions to dance?
A
- 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”
8
Q
Discuss the Denishawn school and company?
A
-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.
9
Q
What are music visualizations?
A
- Making music visible with movement.
- no story line, just making thoughts feelings and structure of music visible
- As shown in soaring.
10
Q
What are 3 important modern dancers that came from Denishawn school?
A
- 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.
11
Q
Discuss Mary Wigman?
A
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.
12
Q
Who is Helen Tamiris?
A
- Jewish Russian immigrant
- concerned with social injustice.
- She was a vibrant and dynamic dancer
- choreographed “negro spirituals”
13
Q
Who is Martha Graham? Discuss style,technique, themes, important to her contribution?
A
- 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.
14
Q
Who is Doris Humphrey? contributions, technique…
A
- She created her own dance company with Charles Weidman
- Her technique was “fall and recover”
- Her dances were very lyrical
15
Q
Who is Charles Weidman?
A
- 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.
16
Q
Discuss Ktherine Dunham- her life, work, contributions?
A
- 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.
17
Q
Who is Lester Horton? technique and contributions?
A
- His techinque was based on long stretched arms and a linear look for the dancer.
- Taught ALL aspects of performance: dance, costuming, lighting, decor.
- Horton trained various significant dancers and choreoraphers such as Alvin Aliey.
18
Q
Who is Jose Limon? Themes, contributions
A
- His themes were based on Mexican, aztec, spanish ideas.
- He was a powerful, dignified, strong man and dancer.
- Best known for this choreography : “The moors pavane”
19
Q
Discuss Alvin Aliey’s background, inspiration, contributions?
A
- He was born in Texas
- He had what he called blood memories
- Alvin Ailey was a dance choreographer who founded the American Dance Theater company in 1958. Ailey’s company has brought African-American culture and American modern dance together into one unforgettable part of dance history.
20
Q
Who is Merce Cunningham- philosophy, contributions?
A
- He was simply into movement, no matter if it involved synchronization.
- He created “dance by chance” left the order of specific steps to be set a a later date or during the performace (would really require the exact knowledge of each step)
- made music independent to movement.
- worked closely with john cage. and andy warhol
- Choreographed: “Rainforest” music by david tutor.
21
Q
Who is John cage?
A
John Cage was an American composer, music theorist, writer, and artist.
-Worked closely with Merce Cunningham.
22
Q
Who is Paul Taylor?
A
- Choreographer of “Esplanade” that entailed working with natural movement.
- Trained with graham, Cunningham
- devised a theory of tech. of wieghted movement in which body appears graceful through its weight.
23
Q
Discuss Twyla Tharp, background, style, contribution?
A
- Choreographed : “Sinatra suite”
- Mother made her study all kinds of dance
- Technique involved switching from controlled moves right into very relaxed and at ease moves.
- She belived that modern dance was so diff because there were no rules you had to define what was what.
24
Q
Who is Busby Berkley?
A
- successful dance director
- known for kaleidoscope effect with the use of camera angles.
- used large numbers of show girls.
- only used beautiful, figurely women.
25
Who is Fred Astaire?
Unlike Busby he wanted to use the camera for full body shots of dancers without cutting out legs, arms etc.
- Singer, actor
- His dances look effortless on the spot but he actually was a perfectionist.
26
Who is bill "Bogangles" robinson?
- He was an idol, inspirations for several dance generations
- amazing performer
- was know as a step dancer
- He has NO tap in his shoes just thick wood blocks
- Tap dancer who was known for tapping up and down stairs as well as Shirley Temple.
27
Who is Gene Kelly?
- He was a choreographer, actor,singer, director, HE DID IT ALL !
- He choreographed "Singin' in the rain"
28
Who is Sammy Davis Jr.
- He started dancing when he was 3 or 4 .
- He was a fantastic tap dancer and entertainer.
- His dance was clean, smooth and light.
- He said with tap you need to know the basics or your done but the most important is establishing your style.
29
Who are the nicholas brothers?
-Harold and Fayard.
-There dance was very acrobatic with tap dance.
-They had high levels of artistry and elegance.
Most successful speciality team in 1930-40
30
Whos is agnes de mille? What did she contribute, what did she choreograph?
Starred in carousel.
- Took american subjects into ballet and revolutionized dance.
- Incorporating ballets that visualized to help tell story line rather than simply dancing.
31
Who is Jerome Robbins? Contributions?
- He was able to successfully FUSE ballet,jazz and harlem rhythms together into his unique approach to choreography.
- Took popular street/ethnic dances and polished them up to a higher level of artistry similar to "william the jew"
32
Who is Bob Fosse? Contributions?
- He was a american actor,dancer, choreo,director,screen writer.
- contributed a revolutionized look of jazz dancers
- grew up with many obstacles
- chose to rebel against anyone who said he was wrong.
33
Appalachian Spring
Choreographed by Martha Graham.
Danced by Martha Graham.
Music by Aaron Copland.
About : divided into 8 sections. entailed meeting of characters their interaction and ultimately marriage story.
where women have dresses and it looks like a farm like setting.
34
Rainforest
choreographed by Merce Cunningham
Music by David Tudor
designed by Andy Warhol "floating silver pillows "
About: there is no plot yet you can convey the childlike gentleness and the drama that is created by entire atmosphere. Dancers are in nude leotards and yet we know they are nonhuman creatures. "Survival of fittest in rainforest"
35
Air for G String 1928
Choreographed by Doris Humphrey
Music by Baque
Thoughtful piece preformed by 5 women holding a long scarf. Their in a circle formation.
36
Errand into the maze 1947
choreographed by Martha Graham.
music by Menotti
About :dealing with the fear of the unknown and facing them based on Greek mythology.
-dancer has black and white stripes on her leotard as well as male dancer.
37
Stormy Weather
choreographed by Katherine Dunham
windy atmosphere. and she dances with men.
38
Esplanade 1975
choreographed by Paul Taylor
music by Baque
About:a girl running for a bus. Entailed working with natural movement such as walking, running, jumping.
The one where it has a intro of each dancer.
39
Lamentations 1930
choreographed by Martha Graham.
music by Zoltan Kodaley
About having sorrow and being trapped in her own skin , having conflicts and wanting out.
Where she's wrapped up in a plum color fabric
40
What was the significance/contribution of Serge Diaghilev in Dance history.
1.amidst important he managed to break away from 19th century tradition. Which was strictly supported and suggested by society. He got rid of unnecessary things (divertissements). Got rid of the narrow minded glorification of the Czar. 2.He made Noverre's dream come true by creating a unified dance which eas the perfect blending of C.C. M. D. D.3. He created the Ballet Russes company and worked with many significant choreographers. she was a theatrical promoter.4. He was not a dancer or choreographer but his specia gift was having a keen eye for putting amazing talents together. He saw potential in people and put them together to make masterpieces.5. He made classical ballet and modern art.6. I think the reason why people found the light in breaking away from conformity and formalism was due to his brave works.
