Modern and Contemporary Dance Technique
The training systems of modern and contemporary dance, from named codified techniques to eclectic somatic and release-based practices.
Definition
The systems and philosophies of training characteristic of modern and contemporary concert dance.
Scope
This topic covers the techniques developed within modern dance, such as the Graham, Humphrey-Limón, and Cunningham systems, and the more eclectic contemporary training that integrates release work, somatic practices, and improvisation. It treats these techniques as expressions of differing philosophies of the moving body and its relation to gravity, breath, and space.
Core questions
- How do modern dance techniques differ from classical ballet in their use of the body?
- What philosophies of movement underlie techniques such as contraction-release or fall-and-recovery?
- How has contemporary training become eclectic and somatically informed?
Key concepts
- contraction and release
- fall and recovery
- weight and gravity
- release technique
- somatics
- improvisation
Key theories
- Technique as embodied aesthetic stance
- The argument that each modern dance technique encodes a distinct conception of the body, expression, and subjectivity rather than serving as a neutral physical training.
History
Early modern dancers developed personal techniques that were later codified and named after them, such as Graham's contraction-release and Humphrey's fall-and-recovery. Cunningham introduced a distinct vocabulary, and from the late twentieth century contemporary training grew increasingly eclectic, drawing on release work and somatic disciplines.
Debates
- Codified technique versus eclectic training
- Educators disagree about whether contemporary dancers are best served by mastering named historical techniques or by an integrative, somatically informed eclecticism.
Key figures
- Martha Graham
- Doris Humphrey
- Merce Cunningham
- Susan Leigh Foster
Related topics
Seminal works
- foster1986
- auQuirey1988
Frequently asked questions
- What is release technique?
- Release technique is a family of contemporary practices that emphasizes efficient movement through the release of unnecessary muscular tension, often informed by somatic and anatomical principles.