Tag: dance history

Choreographer, dancer, and teacher Donald McKayle established a strong foothold for dancers of color by creating work that commented on social injustices, challenged racial norms, and conveyed the Black experience. As a member of the politically active dance collective New Dance Group in the late 1940s, he developed an emotionally rich choreographic style inspired by […]

In 1974, after moving from Brazil to New York City to work as a ballet dancer, I entered Irmgard Bartenieff’s Laban Movement Studies Program looking for innovative ways to approach choreography. I studied and worked closely with her from 1974 to 1977, becoming one of the first Certified Movement Analysts, and then went back to […]

Alwin Nikolais, or “Nik,” as he was known, considered himself an artistic polygamist. He is best known for his multimedia approach to dance, using electronic scores, special-effects lighting and elaborate costumes and props in his pieces. But he also paved the way for abstract modern dance. Before him, modern dance explored emotional and psychological states, […]

Hanya Holm was a catalyst in America’s early modern dance scene, first ushering in her teacher Mary Wigman’s German expressionistic dance and later bringing modern dance concepts to Broadway choreography. Holm is known as one of the “Big Four” of modern dance along with Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, and Charles Weidman. Born Johanna Eckert in […]

Read up on Tchaikovsky here, then test your students’ knowledge with this quiz!  1. What was Tchaikovsky’s greatest contribution to the world of dance music? 2. The Nutcracker was unconventional for its time because: A) The lack of dancing in Act I B) The use of children in leading roles C) It didn’t have an ending […]

The indelible ballet dancer and choreographer Vaslav Nijinsky helped usher in a new era of ballet. As a leading dancer for Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes, he redefined the male presence in classical ballet, bringing athleticism and range to what had previously been a supporting role. His controversial choreographic works are now considered some of the […]

Originally published in print August 2015 Anna Sokolow (1910–2000) was a prolific choreographer fiercely committed to social justice and unafraid to deal with difficult subjects in her work—like war, poverty, isolation and strife. Born in Connecticut to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents, Sokolow moved to New York City as a child and studied dance at an after-school […]

For the up-and-coming generation, dance history doesn’t always sound like the most exciting course. But for students at The Ailey School, former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancer Renee Robinson is bringing enthusiasm to the class by helping her students make personal connections to the past. Robinson’s training began with classical ballet at 9 years […]

1. How did Frankie Manning transform Lindy hop? 2. What was the name of the Harlem ballroom that housed Lindy hop? 3. Though Manning staged many of the dances his group performed, whose name identified their troupes? 4. True or False: Manning appeared at the Moulin Rouge in Paris. 5. True or False: Manning learned […]

Fayard and Harold Nicholas, aka the Nicholas Brothers, were known for their one-of-a-kind “flash act” performances, characterized by full-bodied animation, rhythmic perfection and fearless stunts. They were among the first African-American entertainers to break through the segregation of pre-Civil-Rights-era America and be featured in integrated films. Growing up in Philadelphia, Fayard learned to dance by […]