Dance history & lineage
Knowledge of dance history and the lineage gives context and respect to the dance style you’re learning
Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, Gret Palucca, Merce Cunningham, Jose Limon, Lester Horton, Paul Taylor, George Balanchine, Agripinna Vaganova, August Bournonville, Luigi (Eugene Louis Faccuito), Bob Fosse, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Shirley Temple, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, etc.
The list goes on and on with all of these famous modern dance, ballet, jazz, and tap dance.
How important is dance history and what we do today in dance class? I personally think that it’s important to understand where the origins and lineage comes from when teaching students a specific style of dance and how it reflects into the ever evolving forms of dance. We borrow movement from so many different sources and inspired by different movement styles that sometimes the lines are blurred but ultimately when a dance teacher can point out movement patterns that are inspired by a specific style or signature movement or the historical context of the movement, students will gain an insight into the reasons behind the movement.
So much of the modern world we live in is through the lens of a screen and within the general dance world - it has influenced in how the youth are ending up in dance studios and classes around the globe. TikTok dances are rampant and we have somehow lost the human connection along the way. By understanding the past and the origins of different dance styles and moves can we understand the culture and movement patterns.
Dance is/has always been a powerful form of expression and has the ability to bring communities of people together. Throughout history, dance played a significant role in shaping culture and society in multiple ways. From traditional folk dances that celebrate cultural heritage to contemporary dance forms that challenge social norms, dance has the power to inspire, educate, and unite people from all walks of life.
If you are a dancer, it’s important to know your personal dance family tree. We learn dance from our teachers, but who did our teachers learn from? Who did they perform with? You would be surprised to find out how interlinked we all are through dance.
I did my dance family tree a long time ago while I was a dance major at UCLA. Some pioneers in my dance family tree include Alwin Nikolais, Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Bella Lewitzky, Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor, Bolshoi ballet, along with more direct lineage with Yvonne Rainer, Simone Forti, Doug Varone, David Dorfman, Bill T. Jones, Trisha Brown, Ohad Naharin. I remember being extremely awestruck and inspired when I was done and realised how many influential artists were on the list.
