LESSON 7 - MODERN DANCE

Modern Dance

This dance was created to show emotion and more “human” side to the art. 

Modern Dance

A dance style that rejects the strict rules of classical ballet, focusing instead on the expression of inner feelings.

Modern Dance

The choreography uses all levels and points in space, including the floor and dancers may be placed sideways or even with back turned to the audience. 

Laterals

The dancer stands with the head and the spine in alignment and the supporting for turned out. The arm over the supporting leg comes straight up next to the ear as the torso tilts, unbroken to the side and over the supporting legs.

Lateral T

shows the line of the torso and extended leg at a right angle to the supporting leg. 

Low Lateral

tilt the torso downward and the extended leg up in the air. 

Spiral

Is a torso twist that begins in the pelvis. As the body turns, each level is separately articulated all the way up the spine, pelvis, lower spine, mid- section, shoulders, neck, and  head. 

Spiral

The head remains in alignment with the spine. The spiral releases in the same order. Each movement is part of a smooth progression with the spine as its center. 

Contraction

The action begins in the pelvis and articulates up the spine as the breath is exhaled. 

Contraction

The dancer aims to lengthen the space between each vertebra as the move progresses to the neck and the head, which are always in alignment with the spine. 

Flat Back

Bend over keeping your spine as straight as possible with raise arms into high fifth with the palm facing inward. Raise your torso back and simultaneously with the arms as a single fluid movement. 

Hinge

The dancer balances on the balls of the feet, keeps a straight back and head, and sends the knees forward as the torso tilts back and the arms are held straight out in front. 

Curl Down and Up

Starting in jazz position, with your arms at your side and your gaze focused downward. Curl your spine over slowly and be careful not to collapse at your waist. When you are halfway down to the floor, bend your knees and curl. Continue to curl down one vertebrae at a time and continue subsequently “grow back upward”, again with one section of your spine at a time. 

Leg Swings

Standing in parallel first and place your arms in second position.  Sliding the right leg forward with a pointed toe and it should then brush through the first position. Follow through backwards, slightly bending the knee. 

Tendu

The foot points forward and back into parallel first. You can repeat the position to the side and to the back, alternating in a rhythm. 

Chasse

Standing with your weight on the foot and shift the weight while in pile position. Then jump with both feet vertical together in the air. Travel across the room with this movement and add height and spin for a more advance look.