Expressionist Dance

Expressionist dance (German: Ausdruckstanz, also translated as "expressive dance") is a European dance form that is part of the German Expressionist movement.

Although the Expressionist dance has had origins in the modern dance pioneered by Rudolf von Laban, his student Mary Wigman is considered the pioneer of Expressionist dance proper.

Other names for it that have fallen out of use include Moderner Tanz, Absoluter Tanz, Freier Tanz, Tanzkunst and Bewegungskunst. German Expressionist dance is related to Tanztheater.

Dance artists, besides Mary Wigman, associated with expressionist dance include:

  • Pina Bausch
  • Gertrud Bodenwieser
  • Hilde Holger
  • Kurt Jooss
  • Rudolf Laban
  • Jo Mihaly (born Elfriede Alice "Piete" Kuhr)
  • Alwin Nikolais
  • Gret Palucca
  • Staluse Pera

Famous quotes containing the word dance:

    “What do you do in the Grand Hotel? Eat, sleep, loaf around, flirt a little, dance a little. A hundred doors leading to one hall. No one knows anything about the person next to them. And when you leave, someone occupies your room, lies in your bed. That’s the end.”
    —William A. Drake (1900–1965)