By Stacy DeBroff

By the late 19th century in Europe, ballet had reached a standstill. Many felt it had become a frilly showcase for pretty girls rather than a challenging mode of artistic expression. Modern dance was the result of a rebellion against ballet’s rigid rules and refusal to change with the times.

• The new century was filled with uncertainties and excitement. The influx of TV and other media, as well as innovations in transportation, exposed people to different ideas and foreign cultures. Dancers wanted a way to express their diverse emotions. Modern dance teachers like Martha Graham and Alvin Ailey rejected the traditional ballerina image, and instead used emotional impulse and cultural elements to create a more lyrical and poetic way of moving.

• Modern dance is less rigid than other types of dance, and will teach your child how to bend her body into spirals, contract herself in different positions, and tilt or extend her body in unusual, impressionistic ways. Modern dancers usually dance barefoot.

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