Modern Dance Day One Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey

Agenda  Things to Get:  Paper from the front of the room (if there is paper )  Things to Do:  Opener:  Review of Modern Art and Music  Class work:  Modern Dance  Martha Graham  Alvin Ailey  Exit Slip:  Review of Modern Dance

Opener Complete this on your paper.  1) Identify two symbols in the piece below and explain why they are anti-war symbols.  2) Use the song being played to answer the following questions:  A) The piece being played is a mix of what two genres?  B) Identify two timbres found in this piece that represent each of the genres mentioned above.  C) Explain how the timbres above reflect the genres stated in Part A.  3) This is Dali’s Persistence of Memory. Explain the symbolism found in the watches.

Modern Dance 

Modern Dance Characteristics  Definition:  20th century dance form that emerged as expression of rebellion against classical ballet  Founded by:  Isadora Duncan  Characteristics:  The torso began to be seen as the source of the dance movement instead of the feet as in ballet  free-flowing costumesloose hair  bare feetusing the torso  Fundamental Ideas:  Rejection of the societal restrictions placed on women  Free flowing, creative style

Video: Preview  What are the characteristics of Modern dance?  Answer the questions on your learning guide as you watch the following clip.

Martha Graham “Martha Graham was to modern dance what Pablo Picasso was to Modern art.”  May 11, April 1, 1991  Made America the center of Modern Dance  70 year career; 180 works  Themes include:  Fusion of abstract gestures and psychological symbols  American heritage  Classical tragedy  Develop technique that includes:  Fierce pelvic contractions  Flexed feet  Contorted cupped hands  Rugged “floor work”  Major Work: Appalachian Spring

Major Work: Appalachian Spring  Composition:  Music composed by Aaron Copland  Set designed by Isamu Noguchi  Plot:  Centers around the early 19 th century wedding of a young pioneer couple embarking as homesteaders in the Pennsylvania frontier wilderness  The cast of characters includes:  the brides  the Husbandman  the Pioneer Woman  a Revivalist preacher  four girl Followers (of the preacher)

Preview Activity  On the space provided on the learning guide, sketch your interpretation of the following:  Character’s Costumes  the bride  the Husbandman  the Pioneer Woman  a Revivalist preacher  four girl Followers (of the preacher)  Note: Just sketch one of the above (one character)  Set Design  What does a dance about the Pennsylvania frontier look like in terms of costumes and set design?  Time allotted: 8 min.

Appalachian Spring  Answer the questions on your viewing guide as we watch this clip.

Alvin Ailey W W Dancer and Choreographer W Trained with Lester Horton, Katherine Dunham and Martha Graham, Stella Adler among others W 1958 founded his own company, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater  hugely popular, multi-racial modern dance ensemble W a dance company for African American dancers to perform stories from African American history W First American dance company invited to the Soviet Union. W 1969, Ailey founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center now training 3500 students a year W Major Work: W Revelations, a celebratory study of religious spirit  based on Ailey's own experience of growing up African American in the rural South

Revelations and Slave Spirituals  Alvin Ailey’s major work was Revelations and it was based on slave spirituals.  Read the article provided and answer the questions found on your viewing guide to gain a better understanding of slave spirituals.  Assignment:  Create a visual image with your group based on the spiritual your group was assigned.

Slave Spiritual Reading  1) What is a slave spiritual?  2) Where do spirituals trace their history to?  3) Were slaves allowed to keep their original religion?  4) Why did spirituals blend Protestant and African music?  5) Define sorrow songs.  6) How did spirituals allow slaves to communicate with each other?  7) When would “Wade in the Water” be sung?  8) What are the three reasons why slaves made music?

Revelations Viewing Guide  Choreographer:  Alvin Ailey  Music:  Traditional Gospels and Hymns  Date:  1986  Performers:  Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (company)  Style/Context:  Modern Dance/African American History (slavery to freedom)

Exit Slip  1) How does Modern dance reflect the Women’s Rights Movement?  2) How does Appalachian Spring show the following characteristics of Modern Art:  Breaks with tradition  Uses experimental techniques  Shows the blending of cultures  3) Where did Alvin Ailey gain his inspiration for Revelations?  4) In the first chapter of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations “I’ve Been Buked,” the triangle or wedge formed at the beginning of the piece is broken when the dancers spread out across the floor. What does this dissolving of the wedge symbolize? a. Being sold into slavery. b. African Cultures c. importance of prayer obtained by the U.S d. freedom.