What is modern dance?

Modern dance is a broad genre in western concert or drama dance. It first appeared in Germany and the United States at the end of 19 and the beginning of the 20th century, and is usually regarded as abandoning or opposing classical ballet. It advocates getting rid of the rigid action mode of classical ballet, freely expressing people's true feelings with dance movements that conform to the laws of natural movement, and emphasizes that dance art should reflect modern social life.

General characteristics

(1) The philosophy of modern dance is tolerant, optimistic and happy-go-lucky; Its artistic concept is to seek common ground while reserving differences, and "Eight Immortals cross the sea and show their magical powers". Morse Cunningham, the third generation master of American modern dance, once said, "If you don't like other people's works, make up one you like."

The concept of quantity is the first concept of modern dance. Gleim's title of "Master" should be said to be created by 180' s ballet and dance, which is incomparable to others. Her classmate once pointed out: "Do you want to make an excellent dance? Then, let's make up 100 bad ones first! "

⑶ The concept of beauty is not the only pursuit of modern dance; In modern aesthetics, beauty is not the supreme concept. Therefore, beauty should not be the only yardstick to measure the level of modern dance works; When gleim was a young woman, her angular and convulsive movements, which were sensitive to the coming new era, were denounced by the press at that time as "either having a sudden attack or giving birth soon". But decades later, when the whole world is expressing her spasticity, her "contraction-relaxation" principle is regarded as the horn of the new era and the representative of new aesthetics.

(4) The concepts of new and old in modern dance are not absolutely right or wrong. Although the new one is not necessarily better than the old one, the new one is always more interesting and attracts people's attention.

We should try our best to avoid judging the merits of modern dance works, especially when we look at post-modern dance which is far away from traditional ideas. Dance is an aestheticism far from the economic base and ideology, not an ethics.

[6] For modern dance works, especially those new works that aim at experiments, including students' exercises, it is best not to judge the value, but to try our best to tap their creative potential and understand their creative motives as the fundamental purpose.

At one time, all dance creations were ultimately exploring "what is dance?" Such a philosophical and aesthetic proposition.

Being able to dance, a serious problem in classical dance, is completely untenable in modern dance, because the concept of modern dance is so broad, because in the eyes of modern dancers, it is naturally dancing, because every behavior and every movement of people is dancing. Paul taylor, the third generation master of American modern dance, said, "What we lack is not the movements, but the eyes that can find those movements that can serve our own purposes well."

Thought and philosophy have always been one of the important characteristics of modern dancers. It is no longer the kind of artist and craftsman who only imitates what he doesn't want to create.

Understand that the purpose of modern dance is bold experiment and serious exploration, not cheap flattery or technical show-off.