I loved this post! I took a modern class at this convention the local community college was holding with school and I loved it! It was one of the best hour and a half's I've ever spent! It just clicked with me. I have been doing ballet for a long time, but it feels so good to just let go and FEEL it! Oh and yea it was a little confusing at times, I wasn't really used to the kinds of things she taught but once I caught on it was great!
I kind of want more info on postmodern too, that sounds amazing! Just the randomness of it, and I loveeeee weird stuff!!! =o

Great post !!

All dance disciplines can benefit from sharing moves from other types of dance. Best example is watching the current season of SYTYCD. This week Alex, a professional ballet dancer, wowed the audience and judges with a hip hop routine that featured ballet batterie.

Modern Dance is being re-defined as contemporary and ballet choreography is using more contemporary movement to attract new audiences.

^luvxx2xxdance... If that was your experience then you definitely should check out what offerings there are for modern/contemporary dance in your area... You'll probably click with a few different techniques and open up a whole new opportunity for yourself. Don't limit yourself if you really feel strongly about learning more about modern. It's great that you have something new to be passionate about!

Thank you Tyterope! =]
I take dance at school where we do some modern and contemporary and for our concerts I always audition some kind of contemporary dance=]
And at my studio all I took was Ballet, but I'm asking my mom if I can sign up for Ballet/Contemporary.
Also I'll try to take some master classes or conventions that offer that style too! Haha I think I found my calling =]

Whoa...serious de ja vu right there. I feel like I've read this before...haha

I get love2dance! I'm such a perfectionist in ballet, and I easily beat myself up when I do something wrong and I'm constantly comparing myself to others, but modern just clicks for me. It makes me feel strong and so IN TUNE with my body, when I'm in that class, I'm fearless! It could be that I was in gymnastics for five years before I really got into ballet, but modern, for me at least, comes very easily and very smoothly. It's a great way to express yourself and really feel every muscle in your body and what it's doing, it's definitely a class I learn a lot from!

^ Mhmmm I know exactly what you're saying. I feel fearless and it's funn to fling yourself on the ground and just GO for it!

Hello.

Sorry,but no matter what I'd never give up on ballet.

"Modern" - I am so sorry, but I don't like this term (term, but not what it means). High level 'Modern dance' is build on the basis of classical movements, which are used in contemporary, new way, and in really good 'modern' companies every dancer should have strong, professional classical preparation, because 'modern' doesn't have its own methodology - style is depending of choreographer. Petipa also has been absolutely suprising, new and 'modern' choreographer in his times... (Maybe even 'vanguard') As Mozart and Chopin in music.

The term "modern dance" has been used in the U.S.A. for nearly 100 years, since Isadora Duncan. In other countries "contemporary" is used. However, in the U.S. "contemporary" refers to contemporary ballet, which is different from "modern dance." The legacy of "modern" dance includes the internationally known choreographers, Ruth St. Denis, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Mark Morris, José Limón, Horton, and many other lesser known choreographers. I don't know what you mean by "high level" modern dance. In the U.S. there are three well known techniques, Horton, Graham, Limón. Many choreographers and companies came out of these, and there are definitely modern dancers who make stuff up and don't study a particular technique, although that is less the case than it was 30-40 years ago.

Yes, I know it all... ! It is the same in Europe!! And we are learning about modern choreographers in our ballet schools... But thanks for your replay.

I think I don't have enough good English to explain everything what I would like, but I will try.

I don't want to say that I don't like modern or that it's poor. cause I also liked my modern classes. ButI think that it is best when it have some connection with classic.

Just.. Where are any theaters of Graham, Limon etc? Duncan..?? What are famous spectacles in this style, having wide public? Or schools with own modern syllabubs (prestigious!) making certificated, professional dancers every year? And (nowadays!) really famous dancers, like some classical are?


No, I don't think there really are this level modern dance centers...

Just - someone had invent for example bicycle and there is no way to make absolutely new bicycle, absolutely another. There is only possibility to make some improved, more efficent, with new look. But it will be still and forever bicykle. The same is about the dance. (little methapor)

But there is a lot of great contemporary spectacles where choreography includes some modern movements and its way of expression. Cause that is modern: movements and manner of expressionm but not 'school'. So, taht is someting great what is making dance culture richer.

WHAT I WANT TO SAY IN CONCLUSION WITH CONNECTION TO OUR TOPIC:

There are no just classical or contemporary, or modern dancers, but just - dancers, at all. The different between them is their talent - some are more effectively in one 'dance styles'. Real dancer should have full background - should be trained in any 'theatrical' dance style and next choose what is his/her best side in dancing...

So, there is a lot of myths about modern dance... And I think it fallows from strange public concept about modern, what is always standing as something disconected form classic... Maybe taht is even some of modern dance artists fault.

I think this would be an interesting discussion, worthy of it's own post. It's getting off-track from the original post, which is trying to dispel the myth than Modern is the easy, less-talented version of ballet.

If we are going to talk about Modern Vs Ballet, perhaps someone would like to create a post on the debate board?

Well, we could, Always on Stage, but since this is the Ballet Forum, I doubt there would be many "educated" responses.

In the first place, there ARE schools that teach modern dance in the U.S. The Martha Graham School in NYC for one. Martha Graham also had a company, and as far as I know it still exists. Limón Company still exists, as does the Mark Morris Dance Company, Merce Cunningham company, Paul Taylor Co. and David Parsons Company. Louis Falco Company also existed in NYC and although the company disbanded before his death, the repertoire is still performed today. These are all modern dance companies. Horton, when alive had his own company and school (for adult dancers not children) in California. Alvin Ailey used to take classes there, and the Alvin Ailey Company still exists in NYC and is the most viable and well known (in terms of the 'general public' modern dance company in the U.S. They also have a school which trains both children and adults.

In universities in the U.S. modern dance thrives and all these styles are taught. I took modern dance BEFORE taking ballet and knowing ballet was NOT necessary to do it. The technique we were taught was that originated from Denis/Shawn and passed through to Limón. We did not use a barre in most of the classes--although some teachers did, but others used a warm-up done standing in center. Others used a floor warm-up. There was definitely a "technique" to it. I took one class that was based on Graham technique and it was quite different. There was NO barre used and was a floor warm-up. Contractions are intrinsic to Graham technique and those are not used in some other forms of modern.

I don't have any problem with dancers distinguishing themselves by the type of dance they do. There are simply some people who specialize in ballet, some in modern, some in jazz, some in tango, some in flamenco, some in Irish. There is nothing wrong with that and I disagree with your statement that the difference is "talent." No, the difference is TRAINING. To be a professional and at the top of the game in ANY dance genre you must be talented and you must be well trained. The difference between ballet and modern is the training (and in some cases the body).

I agree entirely. Modern is just as hard as ballet. My dance school even requires that you take ballet to even try a modern class.