Modern Dance Modern dance is comprised of highly individualized movements based upon personalized, ever changing artistic standards. The innate nature of modern dance provides for constant redefinition of the field by practicing artists/dancers. In the past, “modern dance” represented the viewpoints and movement concepts of each of several dancers or choreographers. As the horizons of the dance artists have widened, the various movement forms have become more alike. In the past, it was easy to recognize ballet by it’s codified positions and movements. This is no longer true. Today many “ballet” choreographers utilize the movement concepts of the modern dancer, and many of the body placements and exercises of the ballet dancers are now used in the “modern” techniques. Many choreographers now include in their work not only the elusive modern dance techniques but also the principles of jazz, ballet, and ethnic dance. If the term modern dance were to be defined for today, it should be broad enough to include all of the diverse approaches existing now and likely to exist in the future. Modern Dance Lineage Fill out the attached chart showing the lineage (Who taught whom?) of these influential Modern Dance artists. On a separate sheet of paper list their dates of birth and death and a brief description of how they contributed to the art form. Only typed papers will be accepted. *These dancers are not on the chart; list the information for them. Isadora Duncan Alwin Nikolais Helen Tamiris *Bill T. Jones Ted Shawn Emile Dalcroze Kurt Jooss *Mark Morris Rudolf von Laban Erick Hawkins Alvin Ailey *Moses Pendleton Martha Graham *Trisha Brown Lester Horton *Meredith Monk Charles Weidman Doris Humphrey Jose Limon Pina Bausch Mary Wigman Hanya Holm Merce Cunningham Bella Lewitzky Judith Jamison Paul Taylor Twyla Tharp Ruth St. Denis .