What is Modern Dance?

Well, that's a good question! "Modern" Dance was originally inspired by dancers in the late 19th - early 20th centuries who rejected the rigidity of ballet. Modern dance pioneers such as Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham incorporated the use of natural movement and breathing into their dance technique. As more dancers began breaking apart from ballet and began forging their own modern dance techiques, the use of ethnic dance movements, partner work and floor work were added to the modern dance repertoire.

While natural breathing and movement were radical notions in the early 20th century, nowadays, you might be hard-pressed to tell the difference between many contemporary ballet and modern dance pieces. In some ways, modern dance and ballet have come full circle, each borrowing techniques from the other to create a vibrant, exciting comtemporary dance genre.