Today, the term “modern dance” is often used when talking about a lesson in a dance school. But what does one even think about when one hears about this dance style? It is mostly about expressing your personal feelings and deepest emotions. In order to express these feelings, dancers reveal their needs, wishes, worries, and human drives so that they can present them through their physical movements. It is important for them to show themselves without emotional masks and not hide behind facades. The people who are watching the dancers should see their insides and get touched emotionally through their stories.
The origin of modern dance lies in the late 1900s, in America. At first, the expression “modern dance” was created to find an antonym for the dance style of ballet. Ballet, with its controlled and very precise movements, should have been differentiated from modern dance because it was more personal and relatable for the specatator. While ballet seemed more superficial, artificial, and stiff, modern dancers wanted to distance themselves from it with their more energetic moves and individual poses. In the beginning, modern dance was more of an undefined style without a special technique. Within the following years, the modern dance community felt the urge to get more respected and acknowledged as a dance style. This is why improved techniques and more expanded movements were created in order to become an acknowledged form of art that combines technique with the expression of emotions.
Another difference from ballet is the way the dance companies are structured. While in ballet only the best dancers get acknowledged for their achievements, in a modern dance company, the whole ensamble earns recognition together.
Besides the fun you have when dancing, you will notice that it will have a lot of positive impact on your mind and body. You will feel a strong improvement in your muscle strength, especially in your thighs, abs, and buttocks, but of course, it is a full-body workout. Also, your level of fitness will increase through the accelerated blood flow and the higher heart rate. Furthermore, your joints will gain flexibility, and it can even support weight loss. The dance movements will probably improve your body coordination.
Other than that, modern dancing is one of the most liberating ways of dancing because it is so individual and expressive. This aspect may even help with mental problems, increased stress, and the feeling of being pressured in life. It also helps with improving creativity.
Even though it seems unlikely at first, modern dance and dance in general influence and contribute to our society. It can help children and people at any age to build new relationships, develop self-growth, and gain confidence and trust in the dance community that is their group. Also, it is a great way for people who like to express themselves but want to try something that grants them more freedom than ballet. This is what modern dance does, and at the same time it involves the same storytelling as in ballet.
https://www.tanz-info.de/was-ist-modern-dance-0
https://www.wellnessevolution.it/en/school-dance/dance-modern/#:~:text=The%20benefits%20of%20modern%20dance&text=It%20promotes%20weight%20loss%20and,to%20have%20greater%20body%20mastery.
https://virtuousdancecenter.com/how-does-modern-dance-benefit-dancers-today/
