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Rudolf von Laban
Rudolf von Laban developed the art of movement choirs. It is where a large numbers of dancers moving together in a dance piece. Rudolf also taught famous artists like Mary Wigman and Kurt Jooss. Rudolf is also considered as one of the pioneers of modern dance in Europe and the "Founding Father of the Expressionist Dance in Germany. -
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Asadata Dafora
Asadata Dafora was one the very first Africans to introduce African drumming music to the United States in the 1930s. Asadata was also very talented in opera, concert singing, dancing, and choreography. Asadata is considered one of the pioneers of black dance in America.
Here are some of Asadata dance creations
Ostrich Dance (1932)
Kykunkor (The Witch Woman) (1934) -
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Hanya Holm
Hanya Holm was a dancer, choreographer, and, a dance teacher. Hanya brought modern dance concepts to Broadway choreography. Hanya is also know as one the Big Four of modern dance. -
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Martha Graham
Martha Graham considered to be the most influential modern dance choreographer since the beginning of modern dance. Therefore, Martha was the first dancer to perform at the White House, travel abroad as ambassador, receive the Medal of Freedom- receive the Medal of Freedom, and was listed as the a dancer and a Female icon of the centry in a Time magazine in 1998.
Some of the dances that she had created are
Heretic (1929)
Lamentation (1930)
Appalachian Spring (1944)
Maple Leaf Rag (1990) -
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Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman
Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman form The Humphrey Weidman Company in 1928. The Humphrey Weidman Company lasted until the 1940s. They also form a dance style all of it own. Doris took her ideas about movement to developed a movement style that falls and recovery to represent a in between place. While Charles expand on Doris ideas by adding a lot more floor work to the movement style that Doris came up with. -
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Katherine Dunham
Katherine Dunham was a dancer, choreographer, author, educator, anthropologist,and social activist. Katherine also created her own style of technique called the Dunham Technique. Katherine also had one of the most successful dance careers in the African American and European theater in the 20th century. Katherine also directed her own dance company for many decades.
Here is one of her dance performance
Stormy Weather 1943
Here is some of her dance creations
Barrelhouse Blues 1938
L'ag'ya 1938 -
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Pearl Primus
Pearl Primus was a dancer, choreographer and anthropologist. Pearl played a very important role in the presentation of African dance to American audiences. Therefore, during her dance career she promoted African dance as an art form worthy of study and performance.
Here is one of Pearl dance creations
Strange Fruit (1945) -
Labanotation
labanotation is a system that is used to record movement. Labanotation was very important during the time period that there were no such thing as video recording because it was the only way that dance creations could get preserved. -
Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman Dance Creations
Doris based her choreography on feelings and physical states. Doris was also inspired by nature and life’s body’s natural rhythms.
Here are some of Doris dance creations
Day on Earth (1947)
New Dance (1935) While Charles dance creations ranged from religious, serious or comedic.
Here are some of Charles dance creations
Flickers (1941)
Lynch Town (1936)
Opus 51 (1938)