ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a very brief, selective résumé of the history of ballet, modern dance, contemporary dance and new dance (sometimes called post-modern or independent dance) history. Of course, this subject is so huge that most readers will want to beg, steal or borrow more dance history books and explore the World Wide Web to supplement their knowledge. What has been attempted is a journey through chosen significant moments of theatre dance history, predominantly from the West, but referring to genres and styles from other continents and regions where pos s ible. What becomes quite fascinating is how developments in theatre dance have occurred across times and spaces, across dates and cultures. The exciting thing about tracing some of the most significant recent periods in the history of dance is to realize the many links between one style and another, one country and another, affected by particular individuals. I have drawn from many texts (see Further reading/research at the end of the chapter) for the sources of dominant ideas, and given examples of choreographic works that illuminate each period. But I have also chosen to focus particularly on the periods of dance history that I have lived through and experienced at first hand. However, I also offer a word of warning: as academic writers and as students we are reliant on:
• what has been documented; • when and by whom; • for what purpose; • whose opinions they are.
