The Vision of Modern Dance: In the Words of Its Creators

This is the moving story of the development of modern dance as told by the visionary artist who created it. The powerful words of Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Ruth St. Denis, and over thirty other modern dance artist come to life in these original essays. This revised edition includes new selections by Paul Taylor, Alvin Ailey, Twyla Tharp, and Mark Morris. Rebels against society and classical ballet, the early pioneers sought and achieved freedom from unnatural, restrictive, and inexpressive performing. Each succeding generation added its own distinctive approaches, voices, and styles to the alternating pattern of revolution and institutionalization, in the never-ending spiral of change. The vision of modern dance, a well-rounded collection, sheds light on the viability and vitality of modern dance from its beginnings in the late nineteenth century until today. The volume includes introductory material, a brief biography of each author, photographs in black and white, a bibliography, and a videography.

Included are:
Isadora Duncan
Loïe Fuller
Ruth St. Denis
Ted Shawn
Mary Wigman
Martha Graham
Doris Humphrey
Charles Weidman
Hanya Holm
Merce Cunningham
Erick Hawkins
José Limón
Anna Sokolow
Alwin Nikolais
Paul Taylor
Alvin Ailey
Anna Halprin
Judith Dunn
Yvonne Rainer
Pilobolus
Trisha Brown/ Douglas Dunn
Rod Rodgers
Twyla Tharp
Mark Morris
and Mary Fulkerson, Molissa Fenley, Bill T. Jones, David Gordon, Garth Fagan, Lucinda Childs, Eiko and Koma, Deborah Hay, Jowale Willa Jo Zollar