Timeline: Modern Dance Theodora Pappoe

May 27, 1877

Isadora Duncan 1877-1927

"Mother of Modern dance"
"Free Dance"
Choreograhy expressed Intepretation Of Moods
Movements emulated from the solar plexus

Period: Dec 18, 1878 to Dec 18, 2015

Modern Dance

Jan 27, 1879

Ruth St. Denis 1879-1968

Used ritualistic dances of Asian religion
Husband/Partner Ted Shawn
"Denishawn School"- created by St. Denis and Shawn, which focused on Modern dance and the training of many future modern choreographers.
Studied Eastern philosophy combining religion and dance.

Nov 13, 1886

Mary Wigman 1886-1973

Became the most influential German Modern performer and teacher.
Created school in Germany (Center Of Modern Innovation)

Oct 21, 1891

Ted Shawn 1891-1972

Made role of men in dance a powerful addition to the modern stage.
Founded Jacob's Pillow (Becket, MA) as a center for Modern dance education.

May 11, 1894

Martha Graham 1894-1991

Modern Dance pioneer that evolved from the Denishawn School (protege of Ted Shawn)
Influential figure in Modern Dance
Introduced "and" count
Introduced "Contract and Release"
Explored themes from (Americana, Greek Mythology and Old Testament)

Mar 3, 1895

Hayna Holm 1895-1958

Founding artist of the American Dance Festival
Choreographed (Kiss Me, Kate-My Fair Lady-Camelot)

Oct 17, 1895

Doris Humphrey 1895-1958

Opened a school with Charles Weidman.
"Believed gravity was the source of the instability of movement"
"The Arc between Two Deaths"
Introduced "fall and recovery"
Modern dance pioneer that evolved from the Denishawn School(protege of Ruth St. Denis)

Jul 22, 1901

Charles Weidman 1901-1975

Married to Doris Humphrey.
Developed (Gesture Mime)
Choreography included comic satire

Jan 23, 1906

Lester Horton 1906-1953

Established the first theater in America for dance. (Combined dance and drama)
Productions were often called "color dramas"
Lewitsky and Horton developed "Horton Technique"

Jan 12, 1908

Jose Limon 1908-1972

Prostege of Doris Humphrey
Was recognized as America's first male star of Modern dance.
Believed the central axis was the most important part of the body because it incorporated the concepts of balance and suspension.

Apr 23, 1909

Eric Hawkins 1909-1994

Studied classics at Harvard
Trained with George Balanchine
First male dancer of the Graham Company
Opened school to merge kinesiology with dance studies

Jun 22, 1909

Katherine Dunham 1909-2006

(Caribbean/ African styles)
"Matriarch of Modern Dance"
Founded a group called "Black Negre"
Always on a crusade to promote racial eqquality

Feb 9, 1910

Anna Sokolov 1910-2000

Major figure in the development of Modern dance in Israel

Nov 25, 1910

Alwin Nikolais 1910-1993

P.T. Barnum of dance
Intentions similar to Merce Cunningham but approached totally differently.
Nicolais "One Man Band"
Murray Louis and Nikolais Dance Company founded in 1953

Apr 16, 1919

Merce Cunningham 1919-2009

Avant-garde(dared to do what was never done before)
Lengthy collaboration with John Cage(pianist)
Created "Chance Operation"(Dance by Chance)
Technique stressed making movement appear longer-elongation of the back and extension of legs.