Intro to Modern Dance: Planning a Well Rounded Curriculum
Setting the curriculum for any dance class is by no means an easy task. Not only do you have to tailor the course to fit the needs of your organization and your students, but the majority of the preparations have to be done before you face your students.
Many dance studios offer courses for the beginner adult dancer. Typically these programs attract a wide range of students, with varying levels of ability, experience, and mobility. This situation has great potential, but also presents extra challenges for the instructor – trying to satisfy such a variety of needs in one class can be tough!
Preparing for an Introduction to Modern Dance class can be somewhat overwhelming. From the works of Loie Fuller and Martha Graham to Jose Limon and Twyla Tharp, the term “Modern Dance” covers such a broad range of dance techniques, concepts and theories that it can be difficult knowing exactly where or how to begin.
If structured effectively, introductory dance courses can provide a great way for adult participants to stay active and be creative in an open, supportive environment. Tying your modern dance class in to a historical & theoretical overview provides a strong through line and gives the students a contextual basis for the technical aspects of the course.
Beginning with the early 20th Century pioneers and moving forward to present day, spend at least one or two classes focusing on each major choreographer - discuss their work, and place it into the relevant social and cultural context. Highlighting the lineage and evolution of modern dance will give students a sense of continuity within the art form, revealing the ways in developments and departures made by each choreographer.
Dance Exchange company members Ben Wegman and Elizabeth Johnson, in rehearsal for "Genome: Ferocious Beauty", at the Dance Exchange home studios in Takoma Park, MD.
This background information can be supported with assigned readings from a textbook. Two good options are Deborah Jowitt’s Time and the Dancing Image, or Prime Movers: The makers of Modern Dance in America, by Joseph H Mazo. Both of these books are widely available, and provide an effective overview of the development of modern dance in the 20th Century. Depending on your location, you may also want to bring in guest artists from the community who can provide a personal perspective on a particular choreographer or technique.
Daily classes can be composed of a brief discussion period, a warm-up, and technique exercises in the centre and across the floor, ending class with a composition assignment in which students are challenged to use the highlighted choreographic principles to create a short movement phrase.
The technical portion of class must be tailored to the experience and ability levels of your students. Many techniques in the modern dance canon are extremely physical, and can be dangerous if done without the proper training or support. It is important to explore methods of introducing the basic concepts while maintaining a safe environment. Emphasize that each student is in charge of his or her own body, and is free to modify any movement as they see fit.
Daily composition exercises can be a great way to introduce beginner dancers to the world of choreography. Modern dance can sometimes be intimidating to watch – many audience members leave shows disappointed, thinking that they “just don’t get it”. Learning how to create, watch and analyze movement is an integral element in building an appreciation for modern dance in dancers and non-dancers alike.
The key here is to start simple, and encourage open discussion. Give the class an assignment and split them into groups, with a short time to collaborate in the creation of a brief movement phrase. Working in groups allows those less comfortable to hand over some of the responsibility to others, while remaining involved in the process.
Bring the class together and show each group’s work one by one. Ask the viewers to pick out “shining moments” for each group – anything that stood out to them, for any reason. Emphasize that nothing is too small to notice, and no comment is unwelcome. These quick discussions may begin tentatively, but should blossom as participants become more comfortable with sharing their thoughts and reactions.
If your studio has multimedia capabilities, it is often rewarding to capture these compositions on video and watch them together as a class at the end of the year. This showcases not only the changes in modern dance as the class has progressed through the historical content, but also the growth of each individual, and of the class as a whole.
A great dance class always depends on good planning, and a successful introduction to modern dance will give students a multi-layered education. This format not only provides a foundation in technical movement, it helps contextualize the work, leaving students with a deeper appreciation for the rich history of modern dance, and how it continues to influence dance to this day.
Shallom Johnson is an independent contemporary dance artist, teacher, writer and visual artist currently based out of Vancouver, BC, Canada. She can be reached at shallomjohnson@danceruniverse.com.