New Trends in the 1990s
Modern dance continues to evolve and change in the nineties because of many influences, including decreased funding from government agencies for arts in the US, less appeal to dance audiences and theater patrons, an influx of major and innovative foreign dance companies, and the devastating effect of the disease AIDS on the field.
Some choreographers, for example, Twyla Tharp, have reestablished their own modern dance companies after having made innovative choreographic contribution to major ballet companies. Trisha Brown's company now performs in prestigious proscenium theaters to music by established composer. In the seventies, Brown created mostly without music and in alternative spaces.
Many international modern-dance companies regularly tour the US, including Pina Bausch's Tanztheater Wuppertal from Germany, Netherlands Dance Theatre from Holland, France's Maguy Marin and the Lyons Opera Ballet, and the Butoh-based Sankai Juku from Japan. These companies offer diverse views of modern dance, and use extraordinary visual and theatrical effects with distinctive cultural viewpoints.
Several other themes dominate modern dance in the 1990s, including the use of throwing and catching of the body with gymnastic and wrestling techniques as the basis for choreographic statement. Some productions include elements from tap dancing, rhythmically percussion, and folk forms to appeal to new audiences. The shows Stomp and Riverdance show how modern dance continues to redefine itself by fusing other forms of movement with current practices to find contemporary modes of expression.
The vitality of developing modern dance is less dependent on the New York scene than in the past. In major cities, a number of dancers, choreographers, and small companies are establishing a new kind of dance based on the experience inherent to their locale. As these companies establish themselves, they are able to tour t the dance capital, New York City, and to tour internationally, bringing with them a new point of view on modern dance expression.
As dancers and choreographers explore new ways of moving and create more meaningful ways to communicate with the audience, modern dance changes, incorporates, and adopts these new ideas. The difference between the pioneers and the dancers of today is that today's dancers have a strong, proven foundation from which to work.
Modern dance of the eighties and nineties has continues in the tradition of the pioneers of the movement. It continues to change, evolve, and reflect the time in which it is created. Modern dance is influenced by societal issues, political concerns, the history of the art form evolutions in the other arts, and the expansion and development of dance technique. Modern dance continually grows, develops and reflects the moment of its creation and creator. This is the amazement and excitement of the art form.
part 2 - Trends in the 1990s (you are here)
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