Summary Of Modern Dance By Martha Graham To Alvin Ailey
opinionated Essay
946 words
To write about the book, or to be about the book? Modern Bodies Dance and American Modernism from Martha Graham to Alvin Ailey by Julia L. Foulkes, delves deep into the history of modern dance in America. This text in my opinion is more than just a book highlighting great dancers from the past, also bringing to light the triumphs of art and artists despite the social climate of the time. Glass ceilings that were shattered in spite of gender, race, and class many years ago still occur impacting our present. Therefore the accounts in this book are significant since history tends to repeat itself and with reflecting on the past, we can reflect on ourselves and see where we stand as pioneers in our present time. In this review I will be discussing …show more content…
In this essay, the author
- Opines that modern bodies dance and american modernism from martha graham to alvin ailey is more than just a book highlighting great dancers from the past, but also bringing to light the triumphs of art and artists despite the social climate of the time.
- Analyzes how martha graham and doris humphries broke the molds of women being strictly conformed to ballet or vaudeville. ted shaun created a space for men in modern dance by creating an all male once group.
- Explains how segregation and discrimination at the time were oppressing factors in the african american quest for knowledge of dance.
- Opines that julia l. foulkes' book, 'the future of modern dance', had a vast impact on the culture.
Women were to be respectful and wholesome, to dance and be free, women would usually be part of the vaudevillian or burlesque scene. Martha Graham and Doris Humphries broke the molds of women being strictly conformed to ballet or vaudeville. As the women on the forefront of pioneering modern dance Graham and Humphries embraced abstract movements in modern dance without neglecting the nurturing and emotional aspect of the female psyche. Graham and her father came up with the basis that truth is in body language and Humphries was an extrovert whose abstractness captivated the masses. Yet with women having traditional roles in society so did the men. Strongly frowning upon men who showed an interest in the arts, especially dance, seeing how it came with the stigma of being a homosexual or being queer, dance did not have promise of financial stability, which was major for men at the time for, women were making an impact on the workplace becoming the new breadwinners. Ted Shaun created a space for men in modern dance by creating an all male once group where he eventually diluted the stigmas of being gay and being a dancer. As a homosexual himself, he still was able to show that just like in society, gender roles were critical, and the men moved one way and women another. The comparison of male and female movement made by Shaun gave reason and purpose to the roles played by men and …show more content…
The fact that we can only be who we are and fight for what we believe in, carries over to generation to generation is truly amazing. Julia L Foulkes may not have known that when she wrote this piece that she definitely was recreating the future of modern dance as well as revisiting the beginning of paving the way for modern dance, yet she wrote the book and it had such vast impact on the culture. One that I hope everyone who inspires to be a dancer will have the chance to read one day, or maybe even to be. With that being said I hope you enjoyed my review and will be able to feel what I felt while reading the book and writing my review to know that I as a dancer grasp entirely where she was coming from first
Related
- analytical
- explanatory
- Throughout this analytical essay I will discuss, analyse and conclude the work of two contemporary modern dance pioneers, Alvin Ailey and Katherine Dunham. I will pay particular attention to the era 1935-1980 and focus on socio elements of this time period, using relevant literature to support my findings.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how ailey's diverse choreographic style played with emotion and reflected his early life experiences.
- Explains how the ailey organisation caters for everyone and allows his "dance is for all" legacy to live on.
- Analyzes the work of two contemporary modern dance pioneers, alvin ailey and katherine dunham, focusing on socio elements of the era 1935-1980.
- Explains that ailey's early life experience of racism encouraged him to open a multi-racial dance company in 1958, and that his choreographic homage to lester horton inspired his own company.
- Describes how katherine dunham revolutionized american dance in the 1930s by going to the roots of black dance and rituals transforming them into significant artistic choreography that speaks to all.
1280 wordsRead More - How Mark Morris Changed Danceanalytical essayDance is an ever evolving form of art; in much the same way that one can categorize and differentiate between eras and styles of architecture one can also do so with dance. These eras at times have sharp delineations separating them from their antecedents, other times the distinction is far more subtle. Traditional forms of dance were challenged by choreographers attempting to expand the breadth and increase the depth of performance; preeminent among such visionaries was Seattle born dancer and choreographer Mark Morris. Mark Morris' began as one of the millions of hopeful individuals attempting to simply make a career in dance; he not only succeeded but managed to have a lasting effect on the entire landscape of dance.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how morris' aversion to improvisation leads one to understand that he prefers dance and music that is rhythmic and well thought out and rigorously practiced.
- Opines that to think of mark morris as anything less than a giant of his field would be disservice to the legendary choreographer and illustrate the depth of ignorance of one making that misjudgment.
- Explains that traditional forms of dance were challenged by choreographers attempting to expand the breadth and depth of performance.
- The company : about mark morris. retrieved february 28, 2010, from the metropolitan opera.
1207 wordsRead More - To begin with, Martha’s desperate effort was one of her strong strengths. When Martha began dance, many people murmured that Martha would fail because she was “quite a few years above the average age of all the other girls in the school” (28), “dumpy, [and] unprepossessing” (28). However, she astonished her dance teachers and others “with her determination to learn and her quick mastery of difficult exercises, gestures, and steps” (30). Martha usually spent her time on the studio alone all day and night, seeking for unique, exotic, and alluring movements of her own. Ted Shawn, Mar...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that russell freedman, an american biographer and author, was born in san francisco in 1929 and graduated from the university of california, berkeley.
- Analyzes how russell freedman introduces martha graham's desperate effort, true friendship, revolutionary choreographing skills, and her desperate attempts to secure her fame.
- Explains that martha's desperate effort was one of her strengths. she astonished her dance teachers and others with her determination to learn and her quick mastery of difficult exercises, gestures, and steps.
- Analyzes how martha graham's revolutionary choreographing skills created a revolution in the 1930s.
- Analyzes how martha's true friendship shows her personalities and how she overcame her worries, anxiety, and tiredness. martha and louis horst were best friends in spite of their age gap and attentions.
- Explains that louis horst, martha's friend, was the most loyal supporter and toughest critic, bluntly honest in his comments. since they were usually together, many people misunderstood their relationship.
- Explains that martha visited and took care of louis during martha's crisis. after louis horst passed away in 1964, martha announced, "his sympathy and understanding, but primarily his faith, gave [her] a landscape to move in."
- Analyzes how martha graham, a dancer's life, shows her desperate attempts to secure her fame.
906 wordsRead More - Analysis Of Victoria Marks's 'Mothers And Daughters'analytical essayVictoria Marks’ most recent contemporary dance pieces all were fascinating, but the two that drew me in the most were “Men” and “Mothers And Daughters”. Both of these pieces made in the spring of 2014, focus on the idea of celebrating the life you have been given, leaving your mark on the world, and getting the most out of every opportunity you have to be with someone you care about. Victoria Marks is a dance professor at UCLA, who also choreographs dances for the stage, and films. “Marks’ recent work has considered the politics of citizenship, as well as the representation of both virtuosity and disability. These themes are part of her ongoing commitment to locating dance-making within the sphere of political meaning.” Marks in both films “Men” and “Mothers And Daughters” believes that , "Your Dancing ability does not matter because we are all differently-abled", which is why she used both trained and untrained actors to create these two pieces of art.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that victoria marks' recent contemporary dance pieces, "men" and “mothers and daughters" drew them in because they focus on the idea of celebrating the life you have been given.
- Analyzes how "men" is a fascinating dance piece about older men who travel from all over to reminisce about their long lives. the stillness of the man and the seeing of movement and progression in the background portrays lost time.
- Analyzes how victoria marks' "mothers and daughters" portrays the deep, meaningful relationship between a mother and her daughter.
- Opines that both films choreographed by victoria marks' were fascinating and well done.
772 wordsRead More - Modern Dance: The Different Forms Of Danceexplanatory essayEven though dance first originated back in the 20th century when dancer Isadora Duncan broke away from the strict rules of ballet to create her own more natural form of dance. Through time and experimentation, many genres of dance has surfaced - whether from oppression or for theatrical purposes, each one has captured the eyes of it 's audience. From flashy, sequined clothes to light and flowy dresses; each form of dance has it 's own representation. As well as representation, each genre of dance has powerful emotion in it. These popular forms of dance can be classified into three categories: the pounding and rhythmic beats of Hip-hop, the powerful meanings of modern dance, and the wonderful elegance of ballet, the most thought-out.Everyone has watched in amazement as their high school dance
In this essay, the author
- Explains that dance originated in the 20th century when dancer isadora duncan broke away from the strict rules of ballet to create her own more natural form of dance.
- Explains that modern dance allows a dancer to connect with the natural senses around them by telling the story of something that greatly impacted them.
- Explains that ballet captures the attentions of passionate viewers and new viewers. ballet involves each dancer in special footwear called pointe shoes. each company, or dance studio, has a strong female lead.
- Opines that dance plays a huge role in every one's lives, from teenagers learning to fit in with the popular group to someone’s profession of choice.
733 wordsRead More - Alvin Ailey's Role In Modern Danceexplanatory essayAlvin Ailey played a large role in the diversification and cultural storytelling that can be seen in modern dance today. With the founding of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, his dance company stands strong as one of the most respected and prosperous dance companies because of its artistic representation of the beauty that is otherwise known as the African culture. His work absolutely changed the atmosphere of modern dance because he was able to provide the modern dance community with a wider variety of content that had otherwise not been popularized before. Not only did he draw his inspiration from the African culture, but he also amalgamated this with his personal experience growing up as a black child during times of segregation.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that alvin ailey's american dance theater is one of the most respected and prosperous dance companies because of its artistic representation of african culture.
- Explains that alvin ailey was born during the great depression to two working-class parents in rogers, texas. his father abandoned the family when he was six months old, leaving him and his mother struggling to find work.
- Explains that alvin ailey's american dance theater company was widely successful because of its eloquent dance methodology and fine attention to detail in the thematic elements in each of his pieces.
- Explains that alvin ailey's work was the highest quality of entertainment and storytelling, and it bore a powerful educational and communicative influence. he received many prestigious awards for his work in the promotion of african american culture in dance.
1073 wordsRead More - Different Dance Styles by Doris Humphrey and Maud Allen that Presented New Dances that Displayed Innovative Movements.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the differences between different dance styles by doris humphrey and maud allen.
- Explains that doris humphrey and charles weidman had a great effect on the american people with influence to current events within the moment of their time.
- Analyzes how the difference in style has to do with dancers’ background, childhood, home life, and other contributing factors to define how movement should be expressed in the dance they created.
- Explains that doris humphrey was born in oak park, il. her parents were well-respected among the local community.
- Analyzes how doris humphrey and maud allen expressed the equal interest of emotion to the audience through their performance. this similarity of expressing emotion through dance and movement is natural to a person who understands the phycology of what they are trying to get across.
710 wordsRead More - Katherine Dunham: Activist, Anthropologist, Dancerexplanatory essayKatherine Dunham led a rich and full life not only as a dancer, but as someone who studied the people she loved, wrote extensively, and stood for causes that meant so much to her. Her legacy lives on not only in the great anthropological studies she did or the important political and social stances she took, but in the modern dance of today. Modern dance, or dance in general for that matter, wouldn’t be what it is today without her studies and influence.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that katherine dunham contributed to the rise of modern dance and was a pioneer in the field of dance anthropology.
- Describes how dunham decided to study anthropology with a focus on african and caribbean ritual dances at the university of chicago.
- Describes how dunham's dancing and choreographing career continued to grow with l'ag'ya, run li'l chil’lun, the emperor jones, and a las montanas.
- Describes how dunham dedicated her life to dance and choreography after submitting her thesis to the university of chicago.
- Narrates how dunham and her company premiered tropical review at the martin beck theater presented by sol hurok. the show was banned in boston after only one performance.
- Narrates how dunham and her company continued performing throughout the u.s. in the 1940s and 1950s.
- Narrates how dunham continued to write, teach, and serve as an artist-in-residence and lecturer for afro-american studies at the university of california, berkeley. in 1992, she went on a hunger strike to protest u.s.
- Describes katherine dunham's rich and full life as a dancer, writer, and anthropologist. her legacy lives on in the modern dance of today without her studies and influence.
1071 wordsRead More - The New Dance And The History Of Danceanalytical essayNew Dance is described as a developing art form; this dance was articulated in the early 20th century. According to Chapter 8 in History of Dance book, “the new dance emerged as a response to the ballet that populated the variety shows and music halls, which had a rigid formula of steps and poses” (Kassing). The New Dance was a product of several strands that interlaced together dancers’ studies and backgrounds; these strands and others were woven together in a historical, political, and societal framework. For instance, one strand of New Dance consisted of the concepts, techniques, costumes, and stage settings from around the world. These strands influenced major dancers and choreographers, such as, Isadora Duncan, Loie Fuller, Ruth St. Denis, and Ted Shawn.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that new dance emerged as a response to the ballet that populated the variety shows and music halls. it was influenced by concepts, techniques, costumes, and stage settings from around the world.
- Explains that isadora duncan, a dancer and choreographer of the 20th century, wanted her dances to be authentic and to tell stories.
- Describes ruth st. denis as a dancer and choreographer of the 20th century who altered her wardrobe and brought to america middle eastern and asian dance.
- Analyzes how st. denis' theatrical appeal came from her ability to provide sophisticated yet popular entertainment to vast audiences. her presentation quality and the combination of religious mysticism and her desire to bring dance to the american people made her successful.
- Analyzes how ruth st. denis presented a religious view of the values of her art of dancing. she entertained people and taught them history through art.
- Explains that ted shawn and his men dancers toured the united states and established jacob's pillow on his property in lee, which became an internationally known dance center.
- Explains that ted shawn's main purpose was to bring to light the male dancers during the 20th century; he wanted to inform the audience that males could also tell a story without having females on stage.
- Explains that other dancers and choreographers of the 20th century new dance relied on visuals, such as loie fuller.
- Compares fuller to isadora duncan, who was a realist. she used fabric and light as design elements, experimenting and expanding her repertory of special effects.
- Explains that loie fuller contributed to the new dance as a freelance to dance. it was an individual dance created with authenticity and imagination filled with knowledge and understanding.
964 wordsRead More - The Most Important Dancer of the 20th Centuryanalytical essayMartha Graham was an American choreographer during the twentieth century, whose lifelong pursuit of expressing herself openly and honestly through movement led to many of the innovations we find today in modern dance. Her impact on the dance world is so monumental that it has been likened to that of Picasso’s on painting. Indeed, Graham’s endless search for new forms of expression and honesty through movement have many calling her the most important dancer of the twentieth century.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that martha graham was an american choreographer during the twentieth century, whose lifelong pursuit of expressing herself openly and honestly through movement led to many of the innovations we find today in modern dance.
- Explains that martha graham spent most of her childhood and adolescent years on the west coast, raised by her father, who was interested in using movement to remedy nervous disorders.
- Narrates how graham danced the role of an attacked aztec maiden in xochital, which garnered critical acclaim. after eight years at denishawn, she left the institution in search of more experimental work in 1923.
- Explains that graham's goal was to illicit strong feelings and impulses through sexual and violent movements.
- Narrates how graham established the martha graham school for contemporary dance in new york. she worked with isamu noguchi, scenic designer, and louis horst, sound designer.
- Analyzes how martha graham, the mother of modern dance, was the first choreographer to consistently employ african american and asian american dancers.
652 wordsRead More