Famous Choreographers
Martha Graham
Martha Graham has been called the "Picasso of Dance," because she changed dance the way Picasso changed visual art. In a way, Graham is the creator of modern dance. Through the World Wars, the interest in ballet and classical dance had suffered. Graham reinvented ballet with her own twist resulting in a new creation, "modern dance" or contemporary ballet.
Martha Graham has been called the "Picasso of Dance," because she changed dance the way Picasso changed visual art. In a way, Graham is the creator of modern dance. Through the World Wars, the interest in ballet and classical dance had suffered. Graham reinvented ballet with her own twist resulting in a new creation, "modern dance" or contemporary ballet.
Bob Fosse
Bob Fosse is known for combining dance styles. Although that doesn't seem revolutionary today, it was in the 1950s. In the premier of his eclectic style Fosse combined ballet with jazz, a cancan, a middle eastern dance, and a court dance. He also thought beyond the dance steps. He encouraged his dancers to act while dancing supposedly saying, "The time to sing is when your emotional level is too high to just speak anymore, and the time to dance is when your emotions are just too strong to only sing about how you feel." Fosse was also one of the first choreographers to design lighting for dramatic effect.
Bob Fosse is known for combining dance styles. Although that doesn't seem revolutionary today, it was in the 1950s. In the premier of his eclectic style Fosse combined ballet with jazz, a cancan, a middle eastern dance, and a court dance. He also thought beyond the dance steps. He encouraged his dancers to act while dancing supposedly saying, "The time to sing is when your emotional level is too high to just speak anymore, and the time to dance is when your emotions are just too strong to only sing about how you feel." Fosse was also one of the first choreographers to design lighting for dramatic effect.
Alvin Ailey
Ailey did not require his dancers to be trained in a specific technique before they performed his choreography. Dancers with the Alvin Ailey dance troupe have backgrounds in ballet, modern, jazz and/or even hip-hop. Ailey was more focused on asking dancers to draw on their personal style and individual talents. He did require long leg lines and "a ballet bottom" combined with "a modern top." His willingness to have a dialogue with dancers broke the mold of classical dance choreography.
Ailey did not require his dancers to be trained in a specific technique before they performed his choreography. Dancers with the Alvin Ailey dance troupe have backgrounds in ballet, modern, jazz and/or even hip-hop. Ailey was more focused on asking dancers to draw on their personal style and individual talents. He did require long leg lines and "a ballet bottom" combined with "a modern top." His willingness to have a dialogue with dancers broke the mold of classical dance choreography.
Twyla Tharp
Tharp's choreography is known for creativity, wit and technical precision coupled with a streetwise nonchalance. By combining different forms of movement – such as jazz, ballet, boxing and inventions of her own making – Tharp’s work expands the boundaries of ballet and modern dance. One of Tharp's books explore the idea of extracting ordered meaning from chaos, an idea that echoes in her style.
Tharp's choreography is known for creativity, wit and technical precision coupled with a streetwise nonchalance. By combining different forms of movement – such as jazz, ballet, boxing and inventions of her own making – Tharp’s work expands the boundaries of ballet and modern dance. One of Tharp's books explore the idea of extracting ordered meaning from chaos, an idea that echoes in her style.
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Although Baryshnikov is a choreographer and actor, he is mostly known for his dancing. He is often cited as one of the top three ballet dancers EVER. His jumping ability is unparalleled. Born is Russia, he defected to Canada in 1974. He joined the New York City Ballet as a principal dancer. He then danced with the American Ballet Theatre, where he later became artistic director. Baryshnikov used his talents both on stage and in film, leading him to discover his taken for acting, eventually winning a Golden Globe for his work in Turning Point. You may recognize him from the final season of Sex in the City.
Although Baryshnikov is a choreographer and actor, he is mostly known for his dancing. He is often cited as one of the top three ballet dancers EVER. His jumping ability is unparalleled. Born is Russia, he defected to Canada in 1974. He joined the New York City Ballet as a principal dancer. He then danced with the American Ballet Theatre, where he later became artistic director. Baryshnikov used his talents both on stage and in film, leading him to discover his taken for acting, eventually winning a Golden Globe for his work in Turning Point. You may recognize him from the final season of Sex in the City.