Modern and jazz-modern dances. History of modern dance

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Modern (dance) appeared at the turn of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the States and Germany. In America, the name was associated with stage choreography that opposed the standard forms of ballet. For those who practiced modern dance, it was important to present a choreography of a new order, corresponding to the man of the new century and his spiritual needs. The principles of such art can be considered the negation of traditions and the transmission of new stories through unique elements of dance and plasticity. In their long war with clichés, modernist dancers were unable to completely abandon traditional ballet forms. They put up with some technicalities.

Rise

It is believed that modern dances, which were founded by Isadora Duncan. She was inspired by nature and promoted freedom of movement, their spontaneity. Isadora's dance was an improvisation without special costumes and shoes with live music.

Another resource for the emergence of modern dance is rhythm, the system of Jacques-Dalcroze. The Swiss educator and composer interpreted music analytically and beyond the emotionalperception. The dance served as a kind of counterpoint. Already in his first productions, Dalcroze indulged in the complete subordination of dance to music.

In response to him, in 1928, the work of the Austrian choreographer R. Laban "Kinetography" was published, where it was stated that the movement is justified by the inner world of the creator, and does not serve as the basis for music.

Further development: Kurt Joss and Mary Wigman

Kurt Joss, who was closely acquainted with Laban, worked on the creation of a new theater of dance. Music, scenography, choral recitation were involved in his arsenal. He was interested in theaters of mysticism and cult. All this was aimed at revealing the energy of body movement. Joss introduced new themes, such as political ballets. His work was continued by the student Mary Wigman. The woman found expression in expressionism, introducing the terrible and ugly into modern (dance), staging tense and dynamic productions, leaning towards the expression of universal human emotions.

After Wigman, thanks to her students, two main branches of dance development were formed. One demonstrated an expressionistic perception, the subjective impressions of a dancer, a desire to expose the unconscious, the true in a person. Representatives of this trend were able to express themselves in the so-called absolute dance. The second group was significantly influenced by abstractionism and constructivism. For the dancers, the form was not just an expressive means, but the content of the image.

Jazz-modern: dance of the new time

Latera new direction is emerging - modern jazz, which today captivates with its unique contrast of white classics and black jazz.

Dancers use steps from classical ballet and broken movements from modern, waves from latin dances and jumps from hip-hop, break elements. This does not create an eclectic effect, on the contrary, it helps the dancer to fully express himself in an energetic and plastic composition.

Jazz-modern is a dance that has a wide range of means of expression in its arsenal. Due to this, he is free and spectacular, in no way limits the dancer. Modern jazz is considered a difficult dance, because, in addition to technique, the performer needs strength, endurance, inspiration and clear thinking.

It is important to learn tension/relaxation and isolation techniques during class. Isolation is a technique in which body parts perform movements without interfering with each other. It requires additional training, it looks especially spectacular and delightful. The isolation technique is about the ability to tense one part of the body and at the same time relax the other.

In modern jazz dance, improvisation is important. The sensuality of modernity is intertwined with the plasticity of the classics; in combination with the rhythms of jazz, unique creations arise, the source of which is the soul of the choreographer. That is why jazz modern (dance) has acquired the name of dance for special individuals.

Popular today

Cuba has its own school where they study modern dance. Modern troupes are most common in Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Argentina.

History of danceArt Nouveau had a significant influence on classical designs. Many choreographers of the twentieth century could not help but introduce elements of modernity into their works.