Professional Documents
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DANCE
CONTEMPORARY
DANCE
This is a combination of
ballet and modern dance whereby
it uses the varied medium of ther
dance forms like folks, ethnic, jazz
or tribal dance.
Ballet Dance is a classical
dance form characterized by
grace and precision of
movement by elaborate
formal gestures, steps, and
poses
Modern dance is a broad genre
of theatrical dance developed
by Isadora Duncan and is often
emerged as a rejection of, or
rebellion against classical
ballet.
History
Contemporary emerged in the 1950s out of the
constraints of Classical Ballet. A lady called Martha Graham
decided to rebel against the rigid style of Ballet and perform
movement that was freer and involved using the body and
gravity. She started to use costumes that were away from the
traditional lyrical dresses and Ballet Tutus. From here
Contemporary Dance continued to develop into Modern Dance as
it is today.
Dance
Techniques
1
Cunningham
named after choreographer Merce Cunningham
focused on the architecture of the body in space,
rhythm and articulation
uses the idea of the body's own "line of energy" to
promote easy, natural movement.
2
Graham
named after Martha Graham
focuses on the use of contraction, release, fall and recovery
is characterised by floorwork and the use of abdominal and
pelvic contractions, visibly contrary to the ideals of ballet
3
Limon
named after Jose Limon
uses the feeling of weight and "heavy energy" in the body,
and movement is instigated using breath to lift, and swings
through the body to create and halt movement. It also feels
very nice to perform!
4
Release
a bit like it sounds - in Release technique, we release
through the joints and muscles to create ease of movement,
releasing the breath to aid the release of the body
great relaxation technique as well as a dance style
Notable Figures
in Philippine
Dance
Alice Reyes
National Artist for Dance (1970)
The Mother of Conteporary Dance
Liza Macuja-
Elizalde
Founded Ballet Manila in 1995
with Osias Barroso
"bringing ballet to the people,
bringing people to ballet"
Douglas Nierras
Founder and resident choreographer of
Powerdance
"making dance more accessible to a greater
number of audiences"
Norbert Dela
Cruz III
Graduated from juillard School in New York City
Dance as a soloist with the Metropolitan Opera
and in other dance companies on Europe
Filipino
Contemporary
Dance