I was first introduced to the world of Modern Dance in the year 2014. The dance program at my school, which was heavily centred on Modern Dance, was actively seeking interested dancers to recruit, and I remember being so conscious of my flexibility that I was hesitant to approach. Whether my lack of flexibility wasn't relevant in this context or my teacher was particularly eager to recruit students, the outcome remained the same - I was warmly embraced into the program.
One of my first experiences included sitting in for a theory dance class where the instructor asked for our thoughts on a Modern Dance piece she presented to us. I had no idea what I had just watched. I couldn't make sense of it, and in addition to that, the other dancers had differing thoughts on what they picked from the piece. After going back and forth trying to come up with a definitive answer, the teacher let us in on the fact that the beauty of Modern Dance lies in its abstractness. That it isn't confined to just one idea; therefore, the meaning of the piece she presented relied upon our individual relation to it. I was fascinated!
We continued to explore this foreign style of dance on and off the dance floor guided by the Nikolais/Louis Technique, an approach based on 5 elements: body, motion, space, time, and shape. It was interesting to observe my teacher take everyday movements and transform them into complex works of art by creatively manipulating these core elements. Improvisation and choreography creation, which always seemed intimidating, now felt accessible under this approach. It gave me the freedom to tap into my own creativity without judgment, even with my limited flexibility.
Like many of you, I initially thought Modern Dance was a label for non-traditional dances, but after experiencing it firsthand, my best description of it would be "abstract dance". From the moment that I graduated from the program, Modern Dance and the tools it equipped me with have remained with me throughout my dance journey. It has been an honor introducing Modern Dance to my students as I show the them the beauty of its abstractness and its ability to make magic out of simple movements. Who would have thought that this dance style that I chanced upon would make such an impact on my dance journey?... A testament to the beauty of Modern Dance.
Keep creating & sharing.
~your dancer friend
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