Cultural Aspects of 2nd Generation Modern Dance
by Sammie Marcum
Post World War II modern dance was greatly influenced by America's culture. This
time period ranged from about 1938-1945. Many choreographers were influenced by
the artists, architecture, sculptors, and designers from this time period and
received many ideas for their works from these and many more different areas of
culture. This was a time period when modern dance actually became better known
as well as better accepted as an art form. Many choreographers wanted to create
a new style of dance that was more expressive as well as pleasing to the viewer's
eye. Thus, they create modern dance.
Choreographers, as well as dancers, from post World War II and the second generation
wanted to create a new style of dance and would use many different dance traditions
in their works to create such a style. Being the time period that it was, they
used events going on in the world and express their viewpoints of these events
through their dances. Such events include, of course, World War II and as well as
the Spanish fight against facism. Since theater dance was non-verbal, choreographers
could use it more abstractly and symbolically to show more feeling. Choreographers,
such as Martha Graham, Anna Sokolow, and Erick Hawkins, traveled to many different
areas to take in different cultures for new ideas for their pieces. There was
not any partiular clothing that was improper for dancers to wear since this was
and expressive time for and as well as for dancers in American history. Many of
the costumes for each piece written reflected choreographers' and sometimes
each dancer's feelings and thoughts of the world's happenings. Many of the works/
backdrops also reflected feelings and thoughts of worldwide issues, as well as the
music selected for each piece.
Women were very much a part of the second generation of modern dance as were the
men. Women basically started modern dance as a women's movement. There was not
very much discrimination between the two sexes at this time in United States history.
In fact, many famous choreographers in this time were women. Some of which
include the famous Martha Graham, as well as Anna Sokolow. Men and women danced
together in the same studios as well as on stage and had equal oppurtunities for
advancements in their particular fields of dance. One of the issues of Time Magazine
stated that Martha Graham was one of the most important people of the 20th century.
Therefore, women played a very important role in the second generation of modern
dance.
Cultural norms were also a huge influence on the second generation of modern dance.
Some choreographers decided to go against cultural norms with their dances. Some
even went against normal dance techniques to make their own pieces more creative and
unique. The consequences of doing this were that the audiences were more intrigued
to watch the piece. It also made each piece that much more entertaining as well
as interesting to watch. Sometimes, audiences were somewhat offended by such
techniques and movements because they weren't normal to them. Choreographer Martha
Graham was one of these people who went against normal dance techniques and cultural
norms to make each of her works different from everyone else's. Many other
choreographers followed her lead and wrote their works against traditions and other
cultural norms.
In conclusion, culture played a very large part in the second generation of
modern dance and its dancers. Culture changed the way the dance was performed as
well as how it was written. Many famous choreographers helped with this change
in modern dance and that is partially how we learn, create, and perform the modern
dance we see today.