Pioneers of Modern Dance

Vocabulary flashcards covering key pioneers, techniques, works, and concepts from the lecture notes on early modern dance.

Isadora Duncan

Pioneer of modern dance who believed dance should express inner emotions and the dancer's soul, not just entertain.

Ruth St. Denis

Early modern dance figure noted for a softer, more lyrical style and influence on later choreographers.

Doris Humphrey

Choreographer who developed fall and recovery, emphasizing gravity and breath; early collaborator with Denishawn members.

Martha Graham

Iconic modern dancer-choreographer known for the Graham technique, including contraction and release, hard/angular movement, and mythic themes.

Graham technique—Contract and Release

Movement system using abdominal contraction and a release back to neutral to build core strength and express breath.

Graham technique—Fall and Recovery

Humane approach focusing on gravity where body parts fall and then recover to a balanced position.

Lamentation

One of Graham’s early works featuring a long fabric tube to express emotion through restrained, expressive movement.

Heretic

Graham piece exploring female power and mythic narratives (e.g., Jocasta), using intense, dramatic movement.

Seeds and Permutations

Choreographic concept: take a basic movement and repeat it with slight variations to create new sequences.

Greek Mythology (in Graham’s work)

A major source of Graham’s material, shaping narrative and movement through mythic themes.

Air on the G String

A famous Bach piece referenced in the notes; used as a musical basis or study piece in class.

Denishawn

Early modern dance school/company associated with Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn, a training context for Doris Humphrey and others.