Modern dance is often considered to have emerged as a rejection of, or rebellion against, classical ballet, although historians have suggested that socioeconomic changes in both the United States and Europe helped to initiate shifts in the dance world. For over 65 years, the Paul Taylor Dance Company has toured the world, performing in more than 600 cities in 66 countries, representing the United States at arts festivals in more than 40 countries, and touring extensively throughout North America, South America, Asia, and Europe. According to the 2021 Dance Data Project, the Paul Taylor Dance Company is the third largest in the U.S. and it is of great fortune to Denverites that they are coming to DU's Newman Center on March 27 at 7:30 PM!
Denver Public Library can help you understand and enjoy modern dance with a variety of resources, in print and online:
Martha Graham: When Dance Became Modern: a Life by Neil Baldwin - A major biography--the first in three decades--of one of the most important artistic forces of the twentieth century, the legendary American dancer and choreographer who upended dance, propelling the art form into the modern age, and whose profound and pioneering influence is still being felt today. (Print, eBook)
Ailey - Alvin Ailey was a trailblazing pioneer who found salvation through dance. Ailey traces the full contours of this brilliant and enigmatic man whose search for the truth in movement resulted in enduring choreography that centers on the Black American experience with grace, strength, and unparalleled beauty. (Kanopy streaming, for Denver residents only)
The Style of Movement by Ken Browar and Deborah Ory, NYC Dance Project - Spotlighting today's greatest dancers--from ballet to modern--in clothing by celebrated designers, this stunning volume examines the relationship between style, fashion, and dance. (Print)
Out Loud: a Memoir by Mark Morris and Wesley Stace - From one of the most brilliant and audacious choreographers of our time, this is the exuberant tale of a young dancer's rise to the pinnacle of the performing arts world, and the triumphs and perils of creating work on his own terms--and staying true to himself. (Print)
Polina, a film by Valérie Müller and Angelin Preljocai - Rigorously trained from an early age by a perfectionist instructor, Polina is a promising classical ballet dancer. She is just about to join the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet when she discovers contemporary dance, a revelation that throws everything into question on a profound level. (Kanopy streaming, BluRay, DVD)
