American Modern Dancers by Olga Maynard
"American Modern Dancers" by Olga Maynard explores the evolution of modern dance in the United States from its inception around 1900 to its established presence by the mid-20th century. The book is structured into four sections: "The Beginnings," "Denishawn," "The Burgeoning," and "A Summation," each detailing significant phases in the development of the art form. It highlights the foundational influences from 19th-century Europe, particularly the contributions of theorists and dancers in France, Switzerland, and Germany, such as François Delsarte and Mary Wigman. The narrative emphasizes key figures in American modern dance, including Isadora Duncan, Ruth St. Denis, and Ted Shawn, who formed the Denishawn company, pivotal in training many future modern dancers.
Notable dancers like Martha Graham and Doris Humphrey, who emerged from the Denishawn lineage, are discussed for their unique contributions to the style and emotional depth of modern dance. The book also acknowledges Hanya Holm and Helen Tamiris for their distinctive influences and techniques. By the mid-20th century, modern dance had become an integral part of American cultural expression, with numerous platforms for performance and education. Maynard's work serves as a valuable resource for those interested in the historical context and techniques of modern dance, particularly for educators seeking to complement their dance curricula.
Subject Terms
American Modern Dancers by Olga Maynard
First published: 1965; illustrated
Subjects: Dancers and educators
Type of work: Biography
Time of work: 1840-1960
Recommended Ages: 15-18
Locale: New York; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Chicago; Bennington, Vermont; Germany; France; and England
Principal Personages:
François Delsarte , a French theoretician of movement and expression in the artsMary Wigman , a German dancer and teacher, a chief exponent of German modern danceIsadora Duncan , the originator and inspiration of modern dance in the United StatesRuth St. Denis , a dancer and founder with Ted Shawn of the Denishawn Dance CompanyTed Shawn , a dancer, dance educator, and founder of the Denishawn Dance Company and Jacob’s PillowMartha Graham , a dancer, choreographer, and founder of the Martha Graham Dance CompanyDoris Humphrey , a dancer, choreographer, and dance teacherCharles Weidman , a dancer and collaborator with Doris HumphreyHanya Holm , a German modern dancer who taught dance in the United StatesHelen Tamiris , a dancer and choreographer
Form and Content
American Modern Dancers: The Pioneers follows the genesis of modern dance in the United States from its origins around 1900 through its development into an established art form by the middle of the twentieth century. Following an introduction, Olga Maynard divides her book into four chronological sections: “The Beginnings,” “Denishawn,” “The Burgeoning,” and “A Summation.” The book also contains an appendix with a diagram of the “family tree” of modern dance and endnotes that add further explanation to some of the topics mentioned in the text.
The first section, entitled “The Beginnings,” examines the formative influences on American modern dance. This background reaches back to the mid-nineteenth century in Europe and encompasses the work of theorists and dancers in France, Switzerland, and Germany, including François Delsarte, who formulated laws of expression in the arts, and Émile Jacques-Dalcroze, who espoused the use of rhythm to connect music with body movement. A number of dancers in Germany created a modern dance movement. Among these figures, the ideas and dance style of Mary Wigman were most influential in the United States. In the United States, Isadora Duncan was the first modern dancer. Her approach to dancing was personal and unique. Her work was not fully appreciated in the United States, however, and she found greater acceptance in Europe.
The collaboration of two dancers, Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn, provided the real foundation of modern dance in the United States. St. Denis developed a personal vision of dance inspired by Oriental culture. Shawn began dancing as a form of physical therapy after a serious bout with diphtheria and then danced professionally in Los Angeles. He met St. Denis in New York. They married and established a dance company known as Denishawn. Their dance troop and school provided the training for many American modern dancers in the 1920’s. Shawn later founded a male dance group and set up a dance center at Jacob’s Pillow in New England.
By the 1930’s, Martha Graham, who studied and danced with Denishawn, became the most recognized modern dancer in the United States. Her style was based on the fundamental elements of natural movement, and her dances were often introspective expressions of human emotions. Like Graham, Doris Humphrey also began her dance career with Denishawn; she broke away to develop her own approach to dance based on the idea of movement as fall and recovery. She teamed with Charles Weidman in many of her dances. Weidman also received his initial training with the Denishawn company. His particular contribution was to bring the elements of comedy, irony, and satire to dance.
Two other dancers made important and original contributions to American modern dance in these crucial formative years. Hanya Holm was a German dancer who studied with Wigman in Germany. In the early 1930’s, Holm came to the United States and established a school that was significant for introducing the German modern dance approach, especially as practiced by Wigman. Holm trained a number of teachers who brought her system of dance into the curriculum of higher education in colleges throughout America. Helen Tamiris was more individual in her dance style. Her grace and spontaneous movement were reminiscent of Duncan. She also choreographed Broadway musicals.
By the middle of the twentieth century, modern dance was well established in America. There were many opportunities for aspiring dancers to participate in modern dance, from college campuses to a variety of schools and dance companies headed by important dancers such as Graham, Shawn, Humphrey and Weidman, and Holm. Audiences could view many different types of modern dance in performance by the companies and groups headed by these leaders of dance. They could also experience the influence of modern dance in the choreography for the musical theater. In many ways, modern dance had become an essential expression of American culture.
Critical Context
Olga Maynard is a distinguished writer on the theatrical arts, particularly dance. She has written a number of books for adults, as well as several other books on the appreciation of ballet and opera for younger readers. Her works have been praised by critics for the enthusiasm that they display toward their subjects and the clarity with which Maynard presents complex developments in dance and opera.
American Modern Dancers remains the only book for a juvenile audience on the subject of modern dance as a whole. According to the author, the book is intended not only to relate the history of the foundations of modern dance in the United States but also to be used by teachers in conjunction with dance classes. From this perspective, the discussions of the techniques used by the dancers are particularly helpful. Because Maynard covers modern dance only up to the early 1960’s, teachers using this book would need to find supplemental material that continues the story of American modern dance.