dance discussion
Modern Dance: 2nd Generation and Post Modern
Modern Dance: 2nd Generation
Jose Limon
Born in Mexico
Former dancer with Humphrey-Weidman Company
The Moors Pavane based on Shakespeare’s Othello
The Traitor Choreographed in 1954 as a response to McCarthy hearings and the climate of betrayal that haunted the arts and entertainment fields during this period.
Modern Dance: 2nd Generation
Paul Taylor
Dance with Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham before starting his own company 1956
Last living choreographer of his generation.
Choreographed over 133 dances
Has set up an archive to preserve his work
Esplanade (music by Johann Sebastian Bach )
Aureole (music by George Frideric Handel)
Modern Dance: 2nd Generation
Watch: Paul Taylor's Esplanade - Part 1:
https ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyGWsGl7Ezo
And Part 5:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHkciz_yYYI
Modern Dance: 2nd Generation
Katherine Dunham
Created dances fusing modern dance and Afro-Caribbean
Trained as an anthropologist
Created a school and company in both NYC and later in East St. Louis
Often revered to as “Matriarch and Queen Mother of Black Dance“
Watch: Katherine Dunham (03:28)
Modern Dance: 2nd Generation
Alvin Ailey
Created the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
The company and school are both in NYC
Company founded in 1958
The company has earned a reputation as one of the most acclaimed international ambassadors of American culture, promoting the uniqueness of the African-American cultural experience and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance.
Modern Dance: 2nd Generation
Watch Revelations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrPJ4kt3a64
Post Modern Dance
Use of improvisation – Development of Contact Improvisation
Happenings – break down of dependence on dance technique in choreography
Increased level of difficulty – high endurance and strength
Different environments – streets, rooftops, museums, etc.
Accompaniment – music collage, text, street noises, silence
Subject matter – exploration of individual history and serious social issues
Post Modern Dance
Yvonne Rainer's "No Manifesto" from 1965, which envisions a form of dance parred down to its essential, visceral elements.
No to spectacle. No to virtuosity. No to transformations and magic and make-believe. No to the glamour and transcendency of the star image. No to the heroic. No to the anti-heroic. No to trash imagery. No to involvement of performer or spectator. No to style. No to camp. No to seduction of spectator by the wiles of the performer. No to eccentricity. No to moving or being moved.
Post Modern Dance
Merce Cunningham
Former dancer with Martha Graham
Long collaboration with composer/partner John Cage
Abstract work no narrative
Used “chance dance” methods
Created any dances and often did “events”
Watch: Rainforest excerpt by Merce Cunningham
Post Modern Dance
Alwin Nikolais
Created and used lighting, props and costumes in a highly theatrical way.
Created dances about motion, not emotion
Murray Louis
Former soloist with Nikolais company before creating his own choreography
Nikolais/Louis Technique was created by both of them
Post Modern Dance
Judson Church – 1960’s
Yvonne Rainer, Trisha Brown, Deborah Hay and Lucinda Childs
Worked together to explore the boundaries of dance movement and choreography
Rejection of the existing art and a comment on the social/political times
Performances happen anywhere, using improvisation, games, etc.
Watch excerpt on Contact Improvisation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED8hNoulZv4