The history of modern dance begins with discontentment. At the beginning of the 20th century, classical ballet set the standards for dancing. Modern dance evolved as a rebellion against the rigid, formalistic requirements of ballet dancing.
History of Modern Dance
Three women were instrumental in the early history of modern dance, Loie Fuller (1862-1928), Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) and Ruth St. Dennis (1879-1968). All three women were born in the United States.
Loie Fuller found fame in Paris, where her dancing was taken more seriously than in the United States. Her dancing school, which she started in 1908, emphasized natural movement as well as improvisation. Fuller also held patents for stage lighting, which she used for great dramatic effects.
Isadora Duncan may be better known to many today simply because she flouted so many of the conventional standards of her day, such as having her children out of wedlock, and her tragic death, when the long scarf that she had wrapped around her neck got tangled in the rear wheel of an open, moving car. Duncan contributed much to the modern dance movement. For example, she was the first to take the focus from costumes and scenery and focus on the dance itself. Duncan was also the first to create the concept of breathing naturally when dancing. Duncan placed dance firmly within the natural and spiritual worlds.
Ruth St. Denis was the first to incorporate contemporary entertainment forms into her dancing. St. Denis was influenced by the famous stage actress, Sarah Bernhardt as well as the study of philosophy and ancient cultures. This combination of drama, traditional dancing and knowledge, combined with a pinch of vaudeville, was new.
These three women paved the way for the one of the most influential people involved in the modern dance movement, Martha Graham (1894-1991). Graham did some of her training at Denishawn, a dance school run by Ruth St. Denis and her husband, Ted Shawn.
Martha Graham became interested in modern dance after seeing Ruth St. Dennis perform in 1914. Graham's dancing was angular in comparison to the ways that Isadora Duncan, and Loie Fuller and Ruth St. Dennis performed. Graham's focus was on the energy flows between contracted and released muscles as well as breathing and impulse control, or "contraction and release" as she called it.
 | Modern dance steps, modelled on classical dance, can be fun and challenging to try. Here are a couple to get you started. |
 | Modern dancing has taken a number of twists and turns, so to speak, since its inception at the beginning of the 20th century. |
Modern dance moves share a few things with their classical predecessors, but they offer a new challenge even to seasoned ballerinas. |
The origins of modern dance involve a group of visionary women. |
The modern dance still might be dangerous. To you. |
