Key Elements Of Dance Theatre

What Is ‘Dance Theatre’?

To define ‘Dance Theatre’ can be impossible, is it dance or is it theatre? To fully understand this we must know the key elements of each genre and understand the routes, inspirations and dynamics of each. Where does dance become ‘Dance Theatre’ and at what point is movement choreographed so specifically that it becomes dance?

Although the term ‘Dance Theatre’ was not introduced until the 20th century, Dance itself has been a theatrical technique used, dating back as old as ancient Greek times -often used to express emotion through ensemble and choral pieces, which Shakespeare used most commonly to convey choral movement and masquerade ball. However in modern 21st century theatre movement and choreography has become much more of a focus and key element of theatre with popularity inspiring further experimentation of body and movement. But where did this desire begin to use movement over voice to tell a story in a way that was so different to traditional dance? What does the term ‘Dance Theatre’ represent in the 21st century now that theatre has developed even further? To understand this there will be an exploration into where the term ‘Dance Theatre’ came from and what inspired this new and exciting genre that has now become so popular. An investigation will be done into how performance relates to this category, giving an understanding of the roots, inspirations and elements behind this type of theatre and understands the elements and specifics of what makes a performance of this genre.

An exploration into the confusion the term has coiled and investigate what the term ‘Dance Theatre’ has introduced and how it has influenced further developments in theatre.

Has the introduction and popularity of the term D...

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...saw influence from the social and political climate in Germany at this time. Hitler was in power and Germany was quickly becoming a very power hungry place.

‘‘As I was about to start my work to be the first amongst dancers to speak about a world where language alone is not enough, I was well aware about the difficulty of this task. Only the firm conviction that one must conquer for the dance the field of literal and linguistic expression in order to gain deserving and very necessary understanding, in as wide a circle as possible, gave me the determination to carry out this difficult thankless task’’ Laban. 1920 p.1

This quote by Laban suggests that his main aim was to develop the dance industry regardless of the reception it got from audiences, as though he was doing this for his own love and investigation rather than to create the revolution that is did.