“Stepping Out”

In modern dance there are no general rules. Each work of art creates its own language.

In the 1920's and 1930's choreographers virtually reinvented dance. It is perhaps significant that the two nations in which modern dance took strongest hold, America and Germany, were nations that had no celebrated Ballet companies. This situation led ambitious dancers to experiment with new forms.

The new forms in early modern dance tended to emphasize the angular asymmetries of motion, as opposed to ballet where movements are mostly rounded and symmetrical. The result was that early modern dance tended to be fierce.

It’s exponent’s disdained frills, preferring to look earthy rather than conform to stereotyped ideals of grace.