Women's Impact on Dance History: From Ballet to Jazz, Study notes of Dance

Download Women's Impact on Dance History: From Ballet to Jazz and more Study notes Dance in PDF only on Docsity! Dance History: Women in DEV alee) VV Nia sath et (oye) Forms of dance have existed since the dawn of recorded history. From the origin of primitive dance and ritual, dance has evolved into a plethora of styles. Today, we see branches of genres originating from the impact of court dances, ballet technique, modern dance, and jazz dance. As ballet continued to evolve, so did the standards for female dancers. Ballerinas were now socialites, leaving both their bodies and their private lives open to criticism. The Russian Imperial Ballet during the late 19th and early 20th century coveted ballerinas with a strong and stocky build, exuding strength and power in their movement. The new Ballet Russes desired dancers with a long and slender physique. These ballerinas moved softly, showing off the lines of their body. This figure continues to be the most accepted in ballet today. Matilda Kshesinskaya, Russion Imperial Ballet Anna Pavlova, Ballet Russes Ballet Catherine de' Medici ● Born April 13, 1519 in Florence, Italy ● Married to King Henry II of France, giving her powerful influence in the French Court and society. ● Monarchs were extremely powerful at this time, and there was tension between social classes. ● Came from a powerful Italian family, and brought ballet to France when she became queen. ● Developed the ballet de cour. ● Was extremely politically active, and used ballet as a tool to show of France’s wealth and prosperity at this time. Pierre Beauchamp ● Born in 1631 in Versailles, France. ● The French industrial revolution was happening while he was growing up, leading to an increase in child labor. ● The church was beginning to lose power, and monarchs used ballet to demonstrate power and prosperity. ● Became King Louis XIV’s Ballet Master and Superintendent of Ballets while contributing to the development of Court Ballets. ● Helped develop the Academy Royal De La Musique. ● Clarified the five positions of the feet. ● Helped develop Court Ballet in France. Mlle La Fontaine ● Born 1655 and died in 1738 ● Known as the “Queen of Ballet” and considered the first professional ballerina. ● Danced during the Golden Age of France, as it was prominent in the arts and other aspects of European culture. ● Became popular shortly after the public outside of the French Court was allowed to attend ballets. ● Louis XIV (The Sun King) was in power during her career. His love for ballet boosted her career. ● The public French audience was considered loud and rowdy at this time, leading to Fontaine’s departure from the stage to enter a life committed to religion. Ballet Marie Taglioni ● Born in 1804 in Stockholm, Sweden. ● Her father was Filippo Taglioni, a prominent dancer and choreographer. ● During her life, society was driven by the Industrial Revolution, as well as a desire to develop a national identity. ● Was a symbol of the Romantic Ballet period, and well known for her ethereal qualities. ● Best known for her role in La Sylphide. ● Danced en pointe and became one of the first international celebrities of the era. Virginia Zucchi ● Born in Italy in 1849. ● Introduced Italian technique in Russia, where she was a prominent ballerina. ● Russia was under autocratic rule of the czar. ● Was in a golden age for the arts, despite an increase of censorship from the czar. ● Was known for her technical skills, as well as her acting. ● Contributed to the development of the St. Petersburg Ballet School in Russia as well as the World of Art. ● Danced internationally and was referred to as “The Divine Zucchi.” Francesca "Fanny" Cerrito ● Born in Italy in 1817 and lived to be 91 years old. ● Began her dancing career in Italy, but became prominent in London. ● Danced during England’s Victorian Era, which was considered globally peaceful, but led to internal issues, such as prostitution and child labor. ● Was known as a strong and impressive technical dancer. ● One of the first prominent female choreographers. ● Performed across Europe, including in collaboration with Marie Taglioni. A second wave of female modern pioneers rose to prominence during the 20th century, determined to cultivate this new style and develop individual techniques that would outlive them. American dancers and choreographers, such as Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Katherine Dunham, all developed modern techniques that would shape modern dance. In Germany, Mary Wigman and others were beginning to explore this new dance form as well. Martha Graham As modern dance continued to spread and progress, choreographers began experimenting with this open ended blueprint to expand the idea of what modern dance is. In essence, it can be whatever you want it to be. The mid to late 20th century saw the development of postmodern dance which involved abstract and avantgarde ideas being explored. Merce Cunningham Dancers Pearl Primus Modern Martha Graham ● Born in 1894 in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. ● Was prominent during the Great Depression, which inspired some of her work addressing themes that existed in American culture. ● A pioneer of modern dance, known for her contract and release techniques. ● Trained at Denishawn school before she broke off to craft her own modern technique. ● Her movement captured extreme emotion, focusing on breathing and dynamics. ● Founded the Martha Graham Dance Company in 1926. Pearl Primus ● Born in 1919 in Trinidad, before moving to New York City at the age of 2. ● Hoped to expose American culture to African dance and history. ● Faced a lot of prejudice and racism in America. Black artists at this time had to fight against this. ● Was both an anthropologist and choreographer, using her talents to incorporate African culture into her work. ● Choreographed original pieces, such as Strange Fruit, performed on Broadway, and taught at many universities. ● Staged work for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Doris Humphrey ● Born in 1895 in Oak Park, Illinois. ● Lived through the Women’s Suffrage Movement and saw the 19th Amendment passed in 1920. ● Known for her fall and recovery technique, which is still widely taught in modern dance today. ● Celebrated individuality and balance in her performances. ● Trained at Denishawn school. ● A modern dance pioneer who was influential in her theory, technique and choreography. ● Created work both with and without music, which had not been popularized before. Jazz Dance has evolved into many styles today, but its roots date back to the African slave trade in America. A variety of African cultures combined to develop music and dance that reflected their heritage. Dancing to African drum beats, they stamped and clapped to the music, keeping their traditions alive. When combined with American culture, a new style was born. Today, jazz dance has multiple refined techniques and has impacted many other styles, such as hip-hop, tap dance, and modern. Jazz dance evolved into social dance and was displayed in minstrel shows. The inspiration behind these shows came from African influence, yet the dancing was most often performed by individuals in black face. Eventually, the popularity of ragtime bands led to the development of dance moves, such as the foxtrot. The jazz shows and social dances were an important aspect of American society, serving as both a celebration of prosperity, and a distraction from hard times. Minstrel Show Blackface As the popularity of jazz dance grew, many saw an opportunity to cultivate new techniques out of this style. Many of these figures came from modern or ballet backgrounds, using their former training to sculpt their jazz style. Jazz dance gained traction in many areas, including Broadway, television, and film. Jazz dance became a staple in American culture, and is still one of the most influential dance styles in pop culture. From Bob Fosse’s “Rich Man Frug” Bill “Bojangles” Robinson and Shirley Temple Jazz Albertina Rasch ● Born in 1891 in Austria. ● Came from Polish and Jewish decent, and moved to America shortly before World War I. ● Started performing at the age of 14, appearing in many shows across America. ● Started choreographing and training her own dancers. ● Her work in The Black Crook is considered to have originated musical theatre. ● Combined ballet technique with newly popular jazz dance. ● Was known for including dancing that did not necessarily support or align with the story of the play. Carmen De Lavallade ● Born in 1931 in Los Angeles, California. ● Parents were from New Orleans with Creole and African descent, making her very connected to her heritage. This is inspired much of her work. ● Studied multiple artforms in New York City. ● Danced and performed for both Lester Horton and Alvin Ailey, two prominent figures in modern dance. ● Used their influence to develop her signature jazz style. ● Appeared on Broadway, television, and multiple films. Lynn Simonson ● Born in Los Angeles, California in 1943. ● Born into a family of dancers and musicians, which granted her early exposure to the arts. ● Taught dance classes starting at the age of 13. ● Moved to New York City at 18 to study and perform modern and ballet technique. ● Developed the Simonson Jazz Technique, which is still widely taught today. ● Created a technique that she believed could benefit any dancer, no matter their style. ● Traveled to over 16 countries to teach her jazz technique. By looking back at the pioneers of dance, from genres spanning from court ballet to Broadway jazz, we are able to develop a better understanding of how dance has impacted society and culture and evolved according to the world around it. So often when we look back at history, it is dominated by men and their accomplishments. Throughout this experience, I have gained a greater appreciation for the female contribution to dance throughout history. Without these women’s contributions, dance would not exist as it does in the world today. They introduced dance to new cultures, rebelled to develop new genres and styles, and cultivated techniques that will never be forgotten. References 1 1. “About Lynn.” Lynn Simonson , lynnsimonson.com/index.php/about-lynn.html. 2. Anderson, Jack. “Chapter 9: The Phoenix of Modern Dance.” Ballet & Modern Dance: A Concise History, Princeton Book Company, 2018, pp. 165–191. 3. “Anna Pavlova.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 23 June 2020, www.biography.com/performer/anna-pavlova. 4. “Bill ‘Bojangles’ Robinson.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 6 July 2020, www.biography.com/performer/bill-bojangles-robinson. 5. “Bio.” Twyla Tharp, www.twylatharp.org/bio. 6. “Catherine De' Medici Biography.” Encyclopedia of World Biography, www.notablebiographies.com/Ma-Mo/Medici-Catherine-de.html. 7. DeFrantz, Thomas F. Dancing Many Drums: Excavations in African American Dance. University of Wisconsin Press. Madison, WI. 2002. Chapter 10, “Katherine Dunham’s Southland: Protest in the Face of Repression” by Constance Valis Hill. Print. 8. “Doris Humphrey.” Encyclopædia Britannica, 13 Oct. 2020, www.britannica.com/biography/Doris-Humphrey. 9. Fox, Margalit. “Elaine Summers, Who Meshed Dance and Film, Dies at 89.” The New York Times, 16 Jan. 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/01/16/arts/dance/elaine-summers-who-meshed-dance-and-film-dies-at-89.html. 10. Guest, Ivor. “Fanny Cerrito.” Encyclopædia Britannica, www.britannica.com/biography/Fanny-Cerrito.