The origins of modern dance - Essay Example

Modern dance form allowed for self-expression and allowed the dancer to design ones own steps and sequences (Dance Tutor, 2009). While these dance forms were invented in USA, the dancers were not very well received in USA and they had to travel to Europe where the audience was much more appreciative. Up till 1927, modern dance was regarded more as a form of curiosity and not taken seriously with audiences in US, booing away the dancers. Many in the audience could not accept a female dancer making pelvic thrusts repeatedly.

In the great depression, modern dance was found to be ideal to represent the economic troubles that the people faced and gradually more people practiced it. Learning it did not require great expense and one could dance bare feet and wearing street clothes. Gradually, modern dance and its various forms were adapted into movies, musicals, and the classical dance form of ballet faded into the background. Modern dance grew into various sub forms such as Postmodern, Contemporary, Expressionist, Salsa, Reggaeton, Modern Jive, Hip Hop, Street dance and many more (Dance Tutor, 2009).

Lester Horton, born in who lived from 1906 till 1953 was one of the founders of American modern dance. He was a skilled choreographer who invented a number of creative and innovative styles of dancing. Lester took to dancing at a young age and combined ballet, native American dance, art and the stage to create a unique form of dancing. He initially danced and participated in a number of dance pageants that were held in different cities and also collaborated with a number of other choreographers and dancers.

He danced and partnered with artists such as Michio Ito from Japan and he continued to promote and popularise modern dance among a wide section of the population. In those days, ballet was considered as the accepted dance form and all other dance forms including modern dance were regarded with