Ruth St. Williams: A Brief History Of Contemporary Dance

What is the history of Contemporary dance?

Contemporary dance is a style of dance developed and created throughout the mid-twentieth century that has since grown to be one of the most used and more dominant dance genres. With main popularity in Europe and the US. It was originally formed by borrowing movements from styles such as classical, modern, jazz and ballet styles it has since started borrowing from many styles and now has styles borrowing movements from itself. Although contemporary dance borrows from styles such as modern jazz and ballet it is not to be confused with the two as they are all different styles with just a few similarities. Modern dance brought lyrical and classical ballet movements such as explosive lower body focus but

Denis was an American contemporary dance practitioner, introducing more oriental dance ideas into the performing arts. She co-founded and opened her own dance school named 'The American Denishawn School of Dance. Once she died she left behind a legacay that included her oriental-inspired dances and some of her own students later became some of the most pivotal and famous dance figures in the contemporary dance world. Even today some dance companies include collections of her most memorable and famous solos in their own work.

Martha Graham: 1916-1970

Martha Graham was an American modern performer, dancer and choreogrpaher for more than half a century she was the pioneer that brought modern dance into the mainstream world and made people want to join in. Her own style 'The Graham Technique' redesigned American modern dance and is still taught throughout the world to this day the technique has been called and recognised as the cornerstone of contemporary dance. Her shows were intended to 'reveal the inner man' in somebody. Graham was the first dancer to be asked to dance at the White House and travel abroad as an ambassador of dance. Throughout her career she was awarded honors ranging from the Key to the City of Paris to Japan's Imperial Order of the Precious

He is acknowledged for making modern dance popular and revolutionising the afro-american participation of concert dance within the 20th centruy. Because of his companies extensive international touring the company gained the nickname of 'Cultural Ambassador to the World' One of his most famous works 'Revalations' is known to be the best known and most often seen piece of modern dance performance in the world. Ailey fell in love with dance while studying dance styles and techniques such as classical ballet, jazz and native amercian dance at Horton’s school. Horton's school was also the first multi-racial dance school in the United