What is Modern Dance?

Modern Dance is a free, expressive, and experimental style of dancing that started in the early 20^th century as a rebellion against classical Ballet. It began as a way to offer an alternative to Ballet as a means to express the human condition through pedestrian movement. Stylistically, if Ballet was turned out, modern dance was turned in. If Ballet was upright, Modern went to the floor. Modern dance is an exciting style that merges athleticism with expression by exploring momentum, weight shifts, percussive dynamics, inversions, and floorwork.  

In this course you will explore:

• An introduction to Modern dance fundamentals.
• The techniques by the great Modern dance creators:  
• Martha Graham (featured in this Google Doodle)
• Merce Cunningham
• José Limon
• Doris Humphrey

Students will demonstrate increased physical awareness, control, strength, agility, and rhythmic awareness by utilizing the appropriate modern dance technique. By the end of the quarter you will be able to recognize, perform, and identify modern dance steps and movement vocabulary.

Inspirational Modern Dance Quotes:

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique...”   Martha Graham

“The only way to do it is to do it.”  Merce Cunningham

“Dance form is logical, but it is all in the realm of feeling, sensitivity, and imagination.” Doris Humphrey

“There are times when the simple dignity of movement can fulfill the function of a volume of words.” Doris Humphrey

“We are never more truly and profoundly human than when we dance.” José Limon