Modern Dance and

Cotemporary Dance
L3&4
Objectives:

▪ Understand the history and influences of Modern and Contemporary

Dance.
▪ Identify the pioneers of Modern Dance and Contemporary Dance.
▪ Analyze the psychology of Modern Dance and Contemporary Dance.
Questions:

▪ What are your ideas about

Modern and Contemporary
Dance?
▪ Is there a difference between
Modern and Contemporary
dance?
▪ Do you have an idea who are the
dance artists behind the
popularity of Modern and
Contemporary dance?
The difference between Modern &
Contemporary Dance

Modern Dance
• Modern dance is a style deprived of the
restrictions of classical ballet that focuses
on free interpretations derived from inner
emotions.

Contemporary Dance
• Contemporary dance is a specific
genre of concert dance that
concerns non-choreographic
movements influenced by
compositional philosophy.
The difference between Modern &
Contemporary Dance

Modern dance was

born before
contemporary dance
and focuses mainly on
the emotions of
dancers while the
contemporary, focuses
on creating new
techniques and styles.
Modern Dance

Modern dance is a style completely

devoid of all the restrictions imposed
by classical ballet, the body moves
with free interpretations originating
from the inner emotions of the
dancer.

Born at the beginning of the 19th

century, it represents the rebellion of
those artists who did not accept only
classic performances, costumes and
footwear.
Contemporary Dance

Contemporary dance is a genre of concert

dance dating back to the 20th century, it can be defined
an evolution of modern dance and ballet, the latter
strictly non-classical.

It is part of the new contemporary performing arts and

its goal is to distance itself from the formality and
rigidity of the classical canons of ballet in order to return
to its essential function, that is, to communicate and
express.

Expressive communication takes place through a dance

free from constraints and coding. Contemporary dance
is based on the universal concepts of space, time, lines
and curves and its language of expression are the
signals launched by the body.
 Modern and Contemporary Choreography

▪ The choreography of the various styles of modern dances is aimed

mainly at the use of gravity, which is probably due to the greater
influence of ballet and jazz, while contemporary dance has much
more fluid and light elements that further emphasize the connection
between the body and the mind.
Modern Dance Pioneers
The Origins of Today's
Contemporary Dance
Techniques
Isadora Duncan (1877-1927)

Isadora Duncan is one of the most

famous of the early modern
choreographers, and is often referred to
as the mother of modern dance.  Her
contribution was to throw off the
shackles of strict ballet technique and
clothing, and to free up the dancer to be
more expressive and natural.  She danced
barefoot and in tunics inspired by the
ancient Greeks.  She also preferred to use
mood music, rather than the structured
classical movement used in ballet. She
didn’t have a defined technique that has
gone on to influence subsequent
generations of dancers. 
Ruth St Denis & Ted Shawn (1877-1960)

Ruth St Denis was a contemporary of

Isadora Duncan’s.  She believed that
dance was a spiritual endeavour, and
that it was how the body and soul
communicated.  She introduced eastern
ideas to modern dance, and was
particularly interested in Japanese,
Indian and Egyptian cultures. Her
choreographic innovations includes
‘music visualisation where movement
was inspired by the timbre, dynamic
and structural shapes of music, and
rhythm.
Ted Shawn

One of her greatest contributions was

to found the Denishawn
School and Company in 1915 with her
husband Ted Shawn. Some of their
most notable pupils were Martha
Graham and Doris Humphrey, to name
just two. St Denis was known for her
passion and charisma, whereas her
husband, Ted Shawn, was known for
his technical rigour. Shawn continued
his choreographic and teaching career
after the demise of the Denishawn
School, and created the first dance
company composed of men only in
modern dance history. 
Martha Graham (1894-1991)

Martha Graham, is one of the most

well-known of the modern dance
pioneers. She developed her own
dance technique, known as Graham
Technique, which is credited with re-
shaping American dance and is still
taught across the globe.  It is regarded
as the first codified modern dance
technique. Graham technique is based
on the principle of ‘contraction and
release’, which was based on the
breathing cycle. 
Doris Humphrey
Doris Humphrey also developed an
original dance technique which has
become a hallmark of contemporary
dance. Her main physical principle was
the concept of ‘fall and recovery’,
developed by observing the
relationship between gravity and the
human body.  She famously said that
‘Movement is situated on a tended arc
between two deaths’, which are the
vertical balance and horizontal balance.
Doris Humphrey
Doris Humphrey also developed an
original dance technique which has
become a hallmark of contemporary
dance. Her main physical principle was
the concept of ‘fall and recovery’,
developed by observing the
relationship between gravity and the
human body.  She famously said that
‘Movement is situated on a tended arc
between two deaths’, which are the
vertical balance and horizontal balance.
Focus Questions:

What is the difference

between folk dance and a
contemporary dance?

How can you

differentiate
contemporary dance to
modern dance? What is
their significant?
Focus Questions:

How can
How do we preserve
contemporary dance? contemporary dance
give benefits to us?
What is the
significant of Where and how did
contemporary dance contemporary dance
in our life? originated?
Assessment:

vs
Write a
short essay
about your
impression
based on
analyzing
the pictures.
 Learning Assessment Performance:

Contemporary dance is the

exploration of the total movement Instructions:
potential of the body. Unlike the
other forms of dance, it is not bound You will make a video performing any different
by set standards or defined styles.
Instead, it seeks to express a contemporary music with an influence from
personalized vision, often through
experimentation, in exploring new
either of the Graham Techniques and Humphrey
choreographic possibilities. It derives Technique. Individual performance.
techniques from both classical and
modern dance either updating or
distorting them, resulting in a hybrid
▪ Create your own choreography, practice it and
from derived from literature, perform it through record video.
architecture visual arts, circus and
other artistic disciplines.
▪ You must wear an appropriate attire for the
dance or not necessary you will buy, you can
initiate any old clothes and create. Be
resourceful.
 Criteria Needs improvement 5
Fair Good Excellent
     

This shows how the 10

15 20

students are doing in their

Performance Skills Rubrics
Technical skills
       

performance quality, Does the dancer have proper body figure? How good is
their technique for their level
Needs improvement Fair Good Excellent

techniques, and skills as a

dancer at their level. Knowledge of Choreography
Needs improvement      
  Good Excellent
 
Fair
Can the student pick up combinations
at a good pace?

       
Energy Needs improvement Good Excellent
 
 
Is the student willing to learn and work hard? Fair

       
Rhythm Needs improvement Good Excellent
 
Does the student grasp the concept or rhythm? Fair