History of Dance (Contemporary Dance)

Date: July 10, 2024
Reviewed by: Yuri Kim 

This presentation explores the transition from ballet to contemporary dance, focusing on works by choreographers during the modern and postmodern periods. Modern dance is defined by three key characteristics: first, a shift from narrative storytelling and representation through movement to an emphasis on human emotions and the movement itself; second, the influence of feminism, where dancers moved from being objects of the male gaze to becoming expressive subjects of their own inner thoughts and feelings; and third, increased diversity in choreography, incorporating unique personal styles, social and political commentary, and multimedia elements. These aspects are examined through various dance pieces by many choreographers (Isadora Duncan, Merce Cunningham, Pina Baush, Jiri Kylian etc.)