Second wave of modern dance innovators Early modern dance pioneers such as Martha Graham, Isadora Duncan, and Doris Humphrey forever changed the landscape of theatrical dance. But the second wave of modern dance innovators also had a huge impact on the dance genre we know today as contemporary dance. They included people like Merce Cunnigham,…
What is contemporary dance? Hear how 5 of our contemporary dancers describe it Have you ever heard of ‘the curse of knowledge’? It means that sometimes when you know a lot about something, you might not be very good at explaining it to someone who doesn’t know much about it. This is because you use…
Healthy spine exercises in contemporary dance Example of a modern dance contraction – image from 'Beginning Modern Dance' by Miriam Giguere Do you feel like your back is stiffening up as each year passes? Is it getting harder to do simple things like put your socks on while standing up, or bending down to pick…
Modern dance pioneersThe origins of today’s contemporary dance techniques Contemporary dance is an umbrella term that covers a range of different techniques and styles. Examples include ‘release technique’, ‘Graham technique’, ‘Cunningham technique’, ‘Limon technique’, ‘Horton technique’, and more. While these techniques have some differences, they share a common ancestry. To understand ‘contemporary dance’, it’s helpful…
How Ann established a regular exercise routine without going to the gym Ann Lewis (front) with Elissa Sara, Helen Collopy, and Victoria Morgan Like so many women in their 50s, Ann Lewis knew she needed to exercise, but going to the gym didn’t appeal. And while she’d go for a walk every now and then,…