The document traces the evolution of dance from its origins in cultural rituals and ceremonies to its modern forms. It started as tribal dances performed for rituals but later became more of a social activity. Performance dance developed as a refined form of entertainment with its own audiences. Ballet originated in France in the 1400s as a very technical dance style, and modern dance emerged as a rebellion against ballet's rigid conventions, seeking to show a broader range of emotions. Pioneers like Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham developed new techniques that focused on natural, emotionally expressive movements. Dance has continued to diversify with new styles and is now a major part of pop culture.

1. Dance Marguerite Wooley Brittany Townes

2. What is dance?

3. Dance is… Time, space, and energy. A system of natural expressive gestures. “Dance is movement in space and time.”– Twyla Tharp.

4. How did it start? Started as cultural movements all over the world. No specific origin. Very tribal and ritualistic. Certain dances performed for certain ceremonies and rights of passage. Show clip (African Wedding)

5. Evolution Eventually dance became more of a social activity. People gathered to dance just for fun. Partner dancing became prominent. Started in Europe. Clip (Court dancing) Social dance developed more sex appeal. Clip (Tango) Continues on into today.

6. Performance Dance In addition to the social dancing, it also became a refined form of entertainment. First time dance had a formal audience.

7. Ballet Started in France in the 1400’s. Very technical. Five positions of ballet. Also eight body positions. Posture, pointed feet. Wanted to express lightness, and defy gravity. Ballerinas wore pointe shoes.

8. More Ballet First position.

9. More Ballet Second Position.

10. More Ballet Third position.

11. More Ballet Fourth position.

12. More Ballet Fifth position.

13. Even More Ballet One of the first forms of dance to convey emotions. Happy, sad, mad. But no in between. Ballets had a storyline. (ie. Swan Lake, Nutcracker.) Origin of all performance dance. Still incorporated partner dancing. Clip

14. Modern Dance People were bored with the perfectionist views of ballet dance. Also, the bleak emotions that were represented by it. A lot of dancers weren’t considered to have the “perfect ballerina body”. Consisted of long legs, short torso, long neck, and lack of meat on their bones.

15. More Modern Dance A rebellion against all things ballet. Ways they rebelled: No shoes. Flex feet. Rejected “proper” posture. Through contraction.

16. Contraction

17. More Modern Dance Show more than just black and white emotions. Ex. Vulnerability. Deliberate use of gravity.

18. Pioneers of Modern Dance Isadora Duncan Martha Graham Twyla Tharp

19. Isadora Duncan

20. Isadora Duncan Born May 27th, 1877. Never formally taught. Considered to be one of the founders of modern dance. She thought that ballet was “ugly and against nature”. Main purpose as a dancer was to create beauty and educate the young. clip

21. Technique of Isadora Her technique was based off of a lack of technique. Very transcendental in her choreography. “The movement of the waves, of winds, of the earth is ever in the same lasting harmony. We do not stand on the beach and inquire of the ocean what was its movement of the past and what will be its movement of the future. We realize that the movement peculiar to its nature is eternal to its nature...”

22. More Isadora Natural, flowing movements. Inspired by ancient Greece. Costumes never binding, symbolizing free movements. No sex appeal. “Isadorables” Clip Died in 1927 from a fatal scarf accident.

23. Martha Graham

24. Martha Graham Born May 11, 1894. Saw “dancing water” when she was three, and her love for dance grew from there. Began dancing at 20 years old. Hated the eclecticism of ballet. Wanted to perform the emotional and spiritual principle of human nature.

25. Technique of Martha Developed the idea of contraction, release, hinge, and spiral. Lamentations Clip. Tried to make dance two-dimensional. “Always one person in the audience to whom you speak.” –Martha Graham Very abstract costumes, Egyptian inspired.

26. More Martha VERY sexual with her dances. “I know my dances and technique are considered deeply sexual, but I pride myself in placing onstage what most people hide in their deepest thoughts.”– On Vagina Envy, Martha Graham

27. Martha, again, what a surprise!

28. Dance Companies Appalachian Spring Clip Martha Graham Center of Contemporary Dance. Choreographers start dance companies, and they travel around the world.

29. Twyla Tharp

30. Twyla Tharp Born July 1, 1941 – Today. Lived in an extremely structured, quaker childhood. Became rebellious when she grew up. Her definition of dance movement in space and time. Inspired by Martha Graham.

31. It’s a bird, It’s a plane, JK It’s more Twyla. Danced with Paul Taylor’s company. “Fear is the negative excitement that chokes your creativity.” –Twyla Tharp. Tank Dive Referred to chances of success. Choreographed Broadway musicals, Movin’ Out and Hair.

33. Twyla’s Technique “Diagonal, right angle, spiral and circle are basis of all movement.” Extremely precise. Wanted dancers to look just like she did. A lot more balletic. Clip

34. Dance Today Three separate branches of the dance industry. Company Commercial Broadway More companies. Dance is huge in pop culture.

35. So you think YOU can dance? Positive vs. Negative space. Show us!

36. Evolution of Dance?