Emergence of Modern Dance in America

Final Paper

Modern dance flourished in the twentieth century embodying a tradition of theatrical dance unique to classic ballet. Unlike in classic ballet, modern dance did not represent expression, but rather an obsession with modern art itself. By analyzing the contrasting cultural elements of dance from both ballet and modern dance it will reveal the hybridity of dance culture. Early modern day American dancers Isadora Duncan and Ruth St. Denis symbolized the breakaway from the classical ballet European culture (Thomas). Modern dance represented a rebellion from European ballet traditions imposed on American ballet.

Prior to the twentieth century dance culture was never heavily embedded in the American society (Cohen). Before ballet emerged in America, “…dancers were not socially acceptable in polite society…they could not hope therefore to be treated seriously or to advance up the social scale”(Thomas, 215). Thomas expressed that the American dance culture was low because of the legacy of Puritanism denunciations of the arts and entertainment. Puritans believed that bodily indulgence or anything in relation to it was dangerous and would induce sexual behaviour (Thomas). American theaters stuck to traditional views in dance as women wore Greek or oriental style gowns.

In the novel Dance, Modernity and Culture Helen Thomas argued that Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman ditched the cultural margins that popular dance origins like the Denishawn School of dance offered. Denishawn originated in 1915 by Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn and is often known as the birth of modern dance. Unlike in ballet, modern dance does not put much focus on precision and technique but rather a focus on “…unswerving and unsentimenta...

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...uth St. Denis focus was on expression through nature and religion, Humphrey and Graham interests were on the body’s capabilities. By breaking ties with the Denishawn School of Dance, Graham and Humphrey established an improved movement vocabulary with direct focus on balance, strength, coordination and space.

Consequently modern dance emerged when European traditional views of ballet was rejected by dance iconoclasts. Once the Puritanism religious views of dance were overshadowed by modern dance it affected American culture throughout the current society. Modern dance allowed for American choreographers and dancers to create their own identity. The emergence of modern dance paved the way for the American society to be able to use dance on the basis of a new language. Modern dance represented a rebellion from European ballet traditions imposed on American ballet.