My Modern Dance teacher is awesome and funny... and she taught a ballet class that I was also in... but in her modern dance class, which lasts an hour and 15 minutes... For the first hour or more... we're just doing stretches and exercises. There have been 2 days when we really got to do dance moves... the very first class, and the 5th class... then in the 6th class she actually apologized for us not doing much stretching in the last class. Urgh... I am getting a great workout in that class... but I wanna DANCE! I was assuming maybe the stretching and exercises were to prepare us for intense dancing in later classes... and that may still be the case... but it seemed a little frustrating that when we finally had a class where we actually danced, and I enjoyed it... she apologized for us having not done more stretching and exercises that class.

I think this happens a lot when modern teachers get students who aren't as trained as they'd like. I actually had a modern teacher in college who decided our technique sucked so he taught us ballet all semester even though the class was Modern 3. He was also dancing with Miami City Ballet, so I never really understood why he was teaching modern in the first place. I was FURIOUS, but in retrospect, it was really good for me. But I didn't learn anything about modern that semester.

I guess I wasn't the only student who felt this way because after class today, a guy in class expressed this same frustration to her and she explained it's because new students keep popping in (even all these weeks after the class has started) and that students keep missing weeks at a time... it's true... I and 2 other girls are the only ones who have consistently been there EVERY class. So she doesn't want new anybody to get hurt which is why she's moving very slowly towards actual dance routines. She suggested the guy who spoke up to take intermediate modern dance to supplement her class... which would apply to me as well... but I don't want to try and catch up in the intermediate class... so I'll stay where I am... this workout class with bits of dance might be good for me, and next school year I'll take both or maybe just the intermediate class.

in my opinion, after teaching for 13 years and owning a studio for 6 years, she should be starting on some basic combos and across the floors by the 2nd class. regardless if new people keep coming in and out, you didnt sign up for a stretching class. stretching and technique should be focused on for about 1/2 the class, the other half should be dancing!

One point of view regarding modern dance is, "ALL movement is good."

I know people who cite modern dance performances where they were so frustrated at the "lack of dance" they felt they wasted their money. One, a famous dancer (who was so famous I forget his name!) took a full twenty minutes to cross the stage one labored step at a time, carrying a two by four. He was "costumes" in his underpants...tighty whiteys. The other one, is (and I think it was Jose Limon) the dancer walking on stage, sitting down thoughtfully in an arm chair, and smoking a cigarette. In both pieces the audience kept waiting for something to happen. Well, from the POV of the choreographer, something did happen, it just wasn't what you expected, which is also a common POV in the modern dance world.

In defense of you teacher, I must say this. Most movement in modern technique (regardless of the school of thought)requires a very strong core and extreme flexibility. Extreme movements and poses must look effortless and this requires engaging your iliopsosa. I do agree, however, that simple across the floor and center combinations and other isolations beyond the psosas major and minor should be part of the class.

I hope it gets better, or at least more satisfying as it goes on.

Keep On Dancing*