Beginning Modern Dance Book

Teachers take high school and undergraduate students through the process of learning beginning modern dance technique. Written for beginners, the book provides a friendly overview of the craft, examples on how to structure a class, and ample information on expectations, etiquette, and attire. It also includes a web resource with videos of instruction, assignments, and activities.

Student-Friendly Instruction

Using this book, students are steeped in the artistry of modern dance by contemporaries like Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, and Lester Horton. They will learn to identify elements of modern dance and gain experience viewing, following, and responding to dance choreography and performance. Students will come away with new movement vocabularies a lifelong appreciation for their own unique and personal artistry. 176 pages.

Table of Contents

• Chapter 1. Introduction to Modern Dance
  • Defining Modern Dance
  • Benefits of Studying Modern Dance
  • Basics of Modern Dance Class
  • Expectations and Etiquette for Students
  • Structure of Modern Dance Class
  • Unique Features of Modern Dance
  • Appreciating Modern Dance As a Performing Art
  • Summary
• Chapter 2. Preparing for Class
  • Dressing for Class
  • Carrying Dance Gear
  • Preparing Yourself Mentally and Physically
  • Summary
• Chapter 3. Safety and Health
  • Studio Safety
  • Personal Safety
  • Basic Anatomy
  • Basic Kinesiology
  • Preventing and Treating Common Dance Injuries
  • Flexibility and Stretching
  • Achieving Optimal Fitness
  • Nutrition, Hydration, and Rest
  • Summary
• Chapter 4. Modern Dance Basics
  • Elements of Dance
  • Movement Preferences in Modern Dance
  • Basic Positions
  • Stage Directions
  • Basic Movements
  • Summary
• Chapter 5. Dance Composition Basics
  • Creative Process in Dance
  • Aesthetic Principles
  • Meaning Making
  • Choreographic Techniques
  • Choreographic Structures
  • Choreographic Forms
  • Summary
• Chapter 6. Performing and Responding to Modern Dance
  • Learning Movement for Performance
  • Viewing and Responding to Modern Dance Performances
  • Summary
• Chapter 7. History of Modern Dance
  • Origins of Modern Dance
  • Evolution of Modern Dance
  • Dance in Higher Education
  • Relevance of Modern Dance Today
  • Summary
• Chapter 8. Five Major Styles of Modern Dance
  • Humphrey-Limón
  • Martha Graham
  • Merce Cunningham
  • Lester Horton
  • Katherine Dunham
  • Eclectic Approach
  • Somatic Practices
  • Identifying Your Instructor’s Approach
  • Summary