Contact: joshua [at] joshualegg.com

ordering information:

Amazon.com

course review copies:

DanceHorizons.com

publication info:

Princeton Book Company, Oct. 2011

contents:

1. 1.Introduciton
   

2. 2.The Expressionists: Delsarte, Dalcroze, Duncan, Denishawn
   

3. 3.The Originator: Graham & Humphrey
   

4. 4.The Mavericks: Dunham & Horton
   

5. 5.The Next Generation: Limon & Hawkins
   

6. 6.The Avant-Garde: Cunningham & Nikolais/Louis
   

7. 7.Transition to Postmodernism: Paul Taylor
   

8. 8.Post-Judson Training Practices
   

9. 9.Appendices: Economy of movement, improvisation, somatics
   

RELATED Resources:

Many of the following organizations or individuals provided important assistance and insight while I was conducting research for this book. Over time, I am also including additional sources here that I did not reference for the book, but that do offer valuable perspectives into various aspects of this discussion.

MY PUBLISHER:

Dance Horizons, Princeton Book Company

Dance Companies, Foundations, and Libraries/Archives:

Merce Cunningham

The Merce Cunningham Dance Company

Katherine Dunham

The Katherine Dunham Centers for Arts & Humanities

The Katherine Dunham Collection, Library of Congress

Institute for Dunham Certification

Dunham Technique Seminar on Facebook

2012 Dunham Technique Seminar at Washington University

2012 Dunham Technique Certification Workshop Registration Form

  

Martha Graham

The Martha Graham Center for Contemporary Dance

Erick Hawkins

The Erick Hawkins Dance Company

Lester Horton

The Ailey School

Doris Humphrey

The Doris Humphrey Foundation for Dance

   

The Doris Humphrey Foundation, UK

Jacob’s Pillow

The Jacob’s Pillow Archives

Library of Congress

Performing Arts Collection

José Limón

The José Limón Dance Company

Alwin Nikolais & Lurray Louis

Nikolais Louis Foundation for Dance

   

Alwin Nikolais and Murray Louis Dance Collection

   

Kim Gibilisco Dances

   

Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company   

    

Paul Taylor

Paul Taylor Dance Company

Dance Blogs, TV, etc.

Ashani Mfuko

Kiner Enterprises advice for studio owners & dance pros.

Nichelle Strzepek
Dance Advantage

TenduTV

TenduTV digital network of dance programming

reviews

Journal of Dance Education
(volume 12, issue 4, 2012. Pg. 149):    

...His research is thorough...At the college or high school level, this would be a text that student might be asked to purchase in their freshman year in a dance program. It could then be used throughout the typical four years of study. Or, it could be well-used for a one-semester survey course of modern dance techniques. Overall, this book is a welcome addition to the small number of textbooks for modern dance. Although modern has often in the past been taught without a text, in an era of increased attention to the documentation of learning experiences, having a good text on record and using it is becoming more and more necessary. With its accessible and informative style, this book will help fill that need.

Reviewed by Elizabeth McPherson, PhD
Assistant Professor; Coordinator, BA Dance Education Program
Montclair State University

dance teacher magazine
recommended: introduction to modern dance techniques:    

Ideal for an undergraduate dance history or pedagogy course, Introduction to Modern Dance Techniques explores the work of more than 10 modern dance choreographers, including Martha Graham, José Limón, Lester Horton, Katherine Dunham and Erick Hawkins. The book highlights the training and technique the choreographers developed and introduces their movement vocabulary.
 
Author and choreographer Joshua Legg, who has written for Dance Teacher and taught at Harvard University and Shenandoah Conservatory, compares each artist’s methods through historical, cultural, pedagogical and aesthetic lenses. He also calls attention to the way the training of dancers has shifted: Unlike dancers today who train in multiple techniques plus somatics, dancers of the early 20th century were fluent in the one style of their choreographer.
 
Legg includes descriptions of key exercises from each choreographer’s class work, forming a basic introduction to each movement style. Although the step-by-step instructions are functional, you’ll want to supplement them with video footage that Legg includes in his list of resources at the end of each chapter.

Reviewed by Jenny Dalzell, Assistant Editor

acrl arts books, march/april 2012:

Reading Joshua Legg’s book, Introduction to Modern Dance Techniques, brought to mind my days as an undergraduate dance major and a course titled Theories of Movement .  Legg’s compilation of classic modern dance techniques would have been the perfect textbook for such a course.  In one work, the author brings together the history, philosophy, and techniques of major modern dance choreographers such as Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, Katherine Dunham, Jose Limon, Merce Cunningham, and Paul Taylor.  What makes this book so unique is that in addition to setting a historical perspective and providing biographical sketches, Legg includes a philosophical basis for the techniques, practical exercises/lesson plans, and ideas for further experimentation.  This is supplemented by journaling and discussion topics as well as improvisational experiences related to the core ideas.  I particularly enjoyed the interviews with practicing artists/teachers that occur throughout the chapters.  Novice students may need some assistance in interpreting/executing the exercises, although photographs are included for some of the movements; an accompanying DVD would be a great enhancement. While the author recommends this text for beginning modern dance students, it would also be useful for students enrolled in undergraduate dance history courses, as well anyone with an interest in the development of modern dance techniques over the past 80 years.

Reviewed by Jacalyn E. Bryan,
Reference and Instructional Services Librarian,
Saint Leo University

The MidWest Book Review, DEc 2011:

Introduction to Modern Dance Techniques discusses modern dance and what it takes to be a dancer in today's versatile dance world. Discussing the history and the many techniques of modern dance, illustrated throughout with black and white photography, Joshua Legg works with an expert staff of collaborators to give Introduction to Modern Dance Techniques a complete and comprehensive understanding of what modern dance is.

About the book

Bringing together many of the major modern dance techniques from the last 80 years, this engaging account is the first of its kind. The informative discussion starts by mapping the historical development of modern dance: in the late 19th century, a new dance emerged—not yet known as modern dance—that rejected social strictures and ballet as well. With insight into the personalities and purposes of modern dance’s vanguard—including Martha Graham, Lester Horton, José Limón, and Merce Cunningham—this compilation provides a comparative approach that will enable students to discern which technique best suits them and dispel the idea that there is a single, universal modern dance technique. There are also ideas for experimentation so that students can begin developing an aesthetic sense for not only what is pleasing to their artistic eye, but also for what technical ideas are exciting while their own body is in motion.