THEA 110 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Gas Lighting, Bennington College, Rudolf Von Laban
Document Summary
In the late 19th and early 20th c. several american and european dancers began to rebel against the strict structure of ballet. Focused on creative self-expression rather that technical virtuosity. Style is more relaxed, more use if emotion and mood, creation of own steps as opposed to ballet"s code of steps. It has deliberate use of gravity, instead of light and airy ballet. Dancers use bare feet as opposed to ballet slippery. Free dance (american predecessor to modern dance) Stressed on the center or torso, bare feet, loose hair, flowing costumes. Inspired by the greeks, folk dances, natural forces, abrupt movements, and athleticism. Was not initially popular in the us moved to europe where she was accepted. Experimented with gas lighting effects on her silk costumes. Developed translations of culture and mythology of india. Expressionist dance (predecessor of european modern dance) Development of theories of human movement and expression.
