Modern and Contemporary 1900-

Present

Michel Fokine Russian choreographer Goal: to unite choreography, music and the

dancing in ballets. Successful works: Prince Igor, Carnaval and

Firebird Developed a five-point philosophy for ballet.

Dance - Modern and Contemporary Dance

American choreographer Created modern dance Choreographed over 100 dances Included American Indian, ancient dance ritual,

American pioneers and Greek mythology. Expressed raw emotion and symbolic meanings Graham Technique -new method of movement

Contraction and release of the mid-section of the body.

Martha Graham

Russian choreographer Strong influence on American ballet in the

20th Century. Created the New York City Ballet Company Choreographic style called neo-classic

very clean and simple Dancers were often dressed in a simple

leotard and tights

George Balanchine

American choreographer Created the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre.

First black dance company to travel abroad His most famous work-

Revelations- gospel ballet Various subject matters like American Indians

and Irish Monks. Broke down the barriers of race in dance.

Alvin Ailey

Russian dancer Director of the American Ballet Theatre in

1980. Gave youthful dancers a chance at having

lead roles. Formed the White Oaks Dance Project

working with Twyla Tharp to blend modern dance and ballet.

Baryshnikov became a successful actor and dancer

Mikhail Baryshnikov

Dance Styles

Modern Dance Hip Hop Tap Modern Tap Swing Break Dance-Hip Hop Evolution of Dance

Season 7: Return of the Superstars

America’s Best Dance Crew

Musical Theatre is an American art form It combines a script, singing, and dancing. The contribution of African-American music is an important

element in the development of American musicals. The 1940’s were the beginning of the “Golden Era” of musicals.

Oklahoma 1943 West Side Story 1957 Cabaret 1967

British imports such as Cats and Phantom of the Opera, two of the many Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals to make it on Broadway

Today’s technological advances have really enhanced the appeal of musicals for many audiences through the technical elements.

Drama/Theatre -Modern & ContemporaryAmerican Musical Theatre

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) Born in Russia, but also held French and US

citizenship Wrote for ballets Used Russian folk stories for the ballet stories. Followed the model of the Romantic composers and

used unusual harmonies to create a range of emotions

Listen to Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring: Opening to the end of Jeu de Rapt.

Music - Modern and Contemporary

New York born composer His music reflected the unique nature of American Society. Wrote concertos, symphonies and music for musicals which were

the “popular” music of the day. Famous piece is Rhapsody in Blue.

the sights and sounds of the city, and came to Gershwin while he was riding a train from New York to Boston.

Used sounds associated with the jazz music that was so popular in Harlem at the beginning of the 20th century.

George and his brother Ira worked together to write songs for Broadway musicals.

People would hear a song from a show that they liked, buy the sheet music to it, and sing it in their homes. (before radios)

George Gershwin (1898-1937)

Aaron Copland (1900-1990)

American musical composer Most well known for writing

music that represented America.

Felt that music needed to be accessible to the general public.

Wrote music that he felt could be better understood by everyone.

Used American folk songs, American stories, and also some elements of Jazz.

Famous pieces: El Salon Mexico (1936) Billy the Kid (1938) Lincoln Portrait (1942) Fanfare for the Common Man

(1942) Rodeo (1942) Appalachian Spring (1944)

American born Jazz musician Began career as a pianist. From 1924-1932 Ellington’s band played at the Cotton

Club in Harlem, NY His band experimented with new timbres for their

instruments. Some of these new sounds were growling, bending notes,

and using rubber plungers as mutes for their instruments. Wrote over 1000 pieces of music. Many of his pieces became popular hits and are now

considered jazz standards.

Duke Ellington (1899-1974)

This period has the most drastic changes happening in visual art.

Artists were inventing new art styles that did not rely on representational subject matter.

Line, shapes, and forms were simplified and abstracted.

This is the period of “isms,” Fauvism, Cubism, Futurism, Constructivism,

Precisionism, Expressionism, Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, and Minimalism.

Visual Art -Modern and Contemporary

European Art - Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)

Spanish artist Created Cubism

broke real objects down into geometric shapes and forms like cubes

One of the greatest artists of the modern period, and the most prolific artist of all time.

He mastered: drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and ceramics.

When he died, he left behind over 50,000 piece of art

Experimented with abstract subject matter and using color in nonrealistic ways.

Had a “The Blue Period” and a “The Rose Period”

Also created the concept of collage.

He created 165 paintings in one year, basically one painting every 52 hours!

Spanish artist Created a style called Surrealism Influenced by the psychiatrist Sigmund

Freud’s theory that our subconscious mind and dreams control a lot of what we think and how we act.

The Persistence of Memory- bizarre, dream-like images

Salvador Dali (1904-1989)

Modern and Contemporary American Culture

Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959)

America’s greatest architect. Born in Wisconsin His mother did everything she

could to educate him for a career in architecture.

Wright believed that “form and function are one,”

Felt that using nature-inspired details should not be limited to just surface decoration on a building.

“Organic architecture”

The Prairie style is considered Frank Lloyd Wright’s biggest contribution to architecture.

Prairie style homes are very horizontal with low-pitched roofs and wide overhangs.

Wright example homes: The Robie House and

Fallingwater

Abstract painter Simplified forms into shapes using form, color, and

line. Created a series of skyscraper paintings. She loved the landscapes of the West. Used vivid colors and strong contrasts. Painted close-up images of flowers, shells, and

leaves, as well as landscapes Her flower paintings were sensual in their curving

lines and vivid

Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986)