Modern dance is a style of dance that developed as a reaction to the strict rules that defined ballet. Historically, modern dance began as free-form style lyrical ballet among a community of professional ballet dancers who refused to stop dancing. Isadora Duncan and Ruth St. Denis promoted modern dance as a way of continuing their dance careers, according to their biographies. The first modern dances choreographed required no dancing en pointe or rigid adherence to ballet movement.
As a dance form reacting to the constraints and formality of ballet, a modern dance developed through the ideals of 20th-century America, such as democracy, social protest, and individuality, disregarding the strict aristocratic roots and conformity from which ballet emerged. This changed the language of dance choreography and the way that dances developed. Modern dance is built on the concept of rawness. It focuses on the dancer's strong relationship with the floor, methods of contractions, release, and movement, and the connectivity of breath.
Modern can be performed in bare feet, or with a half-sole style shoe that will allow freedom in the foot while providing protection from the floor. Though developed out of the distaste for classical ballet, modern and ballet are closely linked in the complexity of technique, coordination, and musicality. The syllabus for modern dance originates from the ballet movement. The difference is that today's modern dance is infused with contemporary interpretive movements. In some respects, this is a return to the most primitive dance techniques where the body moves instinctively and improvisationally.
Many modern dancers 'feel' their movements outside of their physical bodies. This technique helps these dancers expand their skills. Modern dance groups today are a microcosm of visual art created in dance. The audience sees what modern dancers feel and is inspired. During modern dance performances, audiences enter the dance and the dance theme with dancers through optical dance staging. A good example of this is found in Micaela diPauli's Fire Modern Dance solo. It is powerfully interpretive with full dramatic nuances.
Contemporary dance
Contemporary dance is a dance performance genre that developed during the mid-twentieth century and has since grown to become one of the dominant genres for formally trained dancers throughout the world, with particularly strong popularity in the U.S. and Europe. Although originally formed by borrowing from classical, modern, and jazz styles, it has come to incorporate elements from many styles of dance.
In terms of the focus of its technique, contemporary dance tends to combine the strong and controlled legwork of ballet with modern dance's stress on the torso, and also employs contract-release, floor work, fall and recovery, and improvisation characteristic of modern dance. Unpredictable changes in rhythm, speed, and direction are often used, as well. It sometimes also incorporates elements of non-western dance cultures such as elements from African dance including bent knees, or movements from the Japanese contemporary dance Butoh.
Dance techniques and movement philosophies employed in contemporary dance may include Contemporary ballet, Dance improvisation, Modern dance styles from the United States such as Graham technique, Humphrey-Weidman technique and Horton technique, Modern dance of Europe Bartenieff Fundamentals, and the dance technique of Isadora Duncan.
Contemporary dancers train using contemporary dance techniques as well as non-dance-related practices such as Pilates, Yoga, the acting practice of Corporeal mime - Étienne Decroux technique, and somatic practices such as Alexander technique, Feldenkrais Method, Sullivan Technique, and Franklin-Methode, American contemporary techniques such as José Limón technique and Hawkins technique and Postmodern dance techniques such as Contact improvisation and Cunningham technique, and Release technique.
Contemporary ballet
Contemporary ballet is a genre of dance that incorporates elements of classical ballet and modern dance. It employs classical ballet technique and in many cases classical pointe technique as well, but allows a greater range of movement of the upper body and is not constrained to the rigorously defined body lines and forms found in traditional, classical ballet. Many of its attributes come from the ideas and innovations of 20th-century modern dance, including floor work and turn-in of the legs. Modern Dance is related to ballet, but aims at different types of performance, instead of classical ballet. Many of its dancers have been trained in ballet, and modern dance companies are rather similar to ballet companies.
Modern Dance was developed in the 20th century, mainly in the United States and Germany. In the early 1900s, several female dancers began rebelling against the strict rules of classical ballet. The pioneers of Modern Dance in the United States were Isadora Duncan, Loie Fuller, Ruth St. Denis, and Martha Graham. George Balanchine is often considered to have been the first pioneer of contemporary ballet. The style of dance he developed, which lies between classical ballet and today's contemporary ballet, is known as neoclassical ballet.
Conclusion
The future of modern dance appears to be venturing into new spatial realms as it develops from a standard dance technique to a futuristic dance drama. Note that a modern dance trio can create a defined pattern with the adagio and soloist enhancing the dance theme. The choreography may include aerial movements, using weight sharing and supporting balance for adagio, as well as a solo that exemplifies iconic free-style modern dance. Creative thinking skills are developed through dance, as well as learning the value of discipline, commitment, and work ethic. Self-confidence develops as young people overcome the challenges to master new goals, learning to apply themselves and accomplish any task put before them. Moreover, dancers will work on creating shapes and movements through imagination and exploration. This is beneficial to all aspects of life, creating endless opportunities for future development
Dance teaches people about music, rhythm, and beat. They also have a better understanding of spatial relationships and learn to think with both sides of their brain. Besides, dancing keeps you fit. It teaches the importance of movement and fitness in a variety of ways through a variety of disciplines. As well, dancers learn to coordinate muscles to move through proper positions. Dancing is a great activity to pursue at almost any age provided you are in proper health to handle the rigors of dancing for life.