2/10/2026 - Week 5 / Meeting 9: Body / Mary Wigman's Expressionism
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Review
Choreutics
The Cube
Trace Forms
Diagonal Movement Scales
Kinesphere
Art Nouveau
Elements of Dance: Space (levels, directions, focus, pathways, size)
Breath patterning assists the coordination of the internal body that is vital in human movement. Functionally, every inhalation and exhalation is a complex event
Patterns of Body Connectivity
4 Components of Human Movement
8 Efforts
I
Unit:Body
Theme: Mary Wigman' Expressionism
II
Introduction
Today
we will review Wigman's concept of body expression. Her ideas
about the liberation of dance from traditional, predetermined steps by
the utilization of improvisation and the honoring of an internal sense
of motion, rhythm and expressive gesture grew in depth and sophistication as Wigman studied and collaborated with Rudolf von Laban from 1913-1919.(1) Mary
Wigman (born November 13, 1886, Hanover, Germany—died September 18,
1973, West Berlin) was a German dancer, a pioneer of the modern
expressive dance as developed in central Europe.
III
Learning Objectives
Understand the application of the idea of "dance discovering its own terms of expression" (1)
Explain how "liberation from traditional, predetermined steps" helps the dancer to develop body expression
Gain awareness of the possibilities that "honoring an internal sense of motion" brings to the dancer's expressive movement.
Experience
the body's inner "rhythm and expressive gesture" to develop your own
sense of "depth and sophistication" when dancing
Reflect
on the work done in class
IV
Main Lesson
1
Warm Up
Alignment
Stretching
2
Review of Solos and Ensemble Phrases
3
Video
(35:17)
4
Dance Expressionism
Expressive dance from German Ausdruckstanz,
is a form of artistic dance in which the individual and artistic
presentation (and sometimes also processing) of feelings is an essential
part.
It was a revolution. It would be more expressive, and show more spirit
and emotion and less virtuosity. The dance would be improvisational,
uninhibited and provocative. Future spiritual and bodily reform
movements expressed themselves in a new "natural" naked dance.
Schools for expressionist dance had special philosophies and emphases
for dance, such as naturalness, breathing, tension / relaxation etc. It
was often associated with floor contact, "weight" of dance movements,
and experiments with music. Body and physicality were strongly
emphasized.
Rudolf Laban was a theoretical prominent figure who was based on metaphysical ideas and one of the pioneers of Ausdruckstanz
in Germany. From 1913-1918, Laban operated a school for art on the
colony Monte Verita in Ascona, Switzerland, which became a teaching
centre for the new dance. Among his students were Kurt Jooss and Mary
Wigman.
Mary Wigman was an important trendsetter as a dancer, choreographer and teacher. In
her school in Dresden (opened in 1920) she taught Europe's premier
aspiring dancer.
5
Analysis
Students
discuss among themselves Mary Wigman's ideas about dance. Using the
question below as a prompt, they post they write about it and post their
reflection on Discussion Board.
QUESTION 1
According to Mary Wigman; what are the two things a dance must always do?
Solway, Andrew (2009). Modern Dance. Heinemann Library
VI
A Note to Remember
Expressive dance from German Ausdruckstanz, is a
form of artistic dance in which the individual and artistic
presentation (and sometimes also processing) of feelings is an essential
part. It is believed that it emerged as a counter-movement to
classical ballet at the beginning of the 20th century in Europe, but
recently some scholars and practitioners think it emerge naturally as a
result of a need to express the body.
VII
Case Studies
1
Video
Analysis
Students
discuss among themselves Mary Wigman's ideas about dance. Using the
question below as a prompt, they post they write about it and post their
reflection on Discussion Board.
QUESTION 2
What does the narrator mean when he says that "Wigman was able to transport moves simply with her movements"?
Students
discuss among themselves Mary Wigman's ideas about dance as illustrated
in Kreutzberg's work. Using the question below as a prompt, they post
they write about it and post their reflection on Discussion Board.
QUESTION 3
In this video Harald Kreutzberg, Wigman's student and dance partner, dances the expressionist piece Dispute with God. Why can we call this dance piece expressionist?
-----------------------------------
VIII
Dance Expressionism and Abstraction
Group Work
Activity 1
Music for Class
Abstract Expression of Emotions
After
watching this piece choreographed by Wigman (in the video above), choose a theme for the
group in which you use expressionism as a tool for your phrase to
develop.
Activity 2
Pedestrian Movement randomly across the floor. Directions and levels, posture
Movement across the floor using releve, diagonal step, turn out feet
Experience spirals individually, (standing to the floor and vice versa, then across the floor, them with expressionist poses
Experience spirals in duets in one spot and then across, then with expressionist poses
Experience
spiral in trios and groups (show Wigman's video in # 4, to illustrate
the potential of the exercise). End with expressionist poses.
Activity 3
Go to your groups and create an 8 moves phrase using expressionist moves as explored in class
IX
Dance Expressionism and Abstraction
Solo Work
Activity 4
Abstract Expression of Emotions
Create a dance/movement phrase using each one of the emotions listed below.
1. Vanity 2. Surprise 3. Greed 4. Sadness 5. Hate 6. Happiness 7. Fear 8. Love
POST YOUR DANCE/MOVEMENT PHRASE ON DISCUSSION BOARD.
X
Journaling
XI
Glossary
XII
Sources
1. Mary Wigman: German modern dance pioneer, performer, choreographer, teacher. https://dance.washington.edu/people/mary-wigman
1 A great tool for my self-expression Andrew Wurtz There were many takeaways, key lessons, and things I have learned from this class all semester. For one, I learned the importance of stretching and the benefits it has on your muscles, internal organs, and even mood. I remember you discussing how it's good to move the body in ways it usually doesn't move to release tension or ease certain body pressures. I have actually found myself routinely stretching on my own on the weekends now, something I rarely ever did in the past. A big personal takeaway I had is that it is always good to try new things and expose myself to different avenues and ways to exercise/move the body. I have been into physical fitness through working out and lifting weights since high school, but taking this class exposed me ...
Assessment Theme: Mid-Term Quiz I Introduction Every semester I assess your understanding of the content covered so far. Just right before the progress report's dead line, you test your own abilities to retain some of the themes we have learned and experienced together. Today's quiz evaluates how efficient I have been in communicating ideas about Modern Dance based on your responses to the questions below. II Objectives Understand the nature of self-assessment Make sense of the various concepts explored in class Gather an awareness of assessment that is conducive to further learning Experience what is like to put into practice the content learned in class III Review Concepts Developed by Rudolff Laban Choreutics: Laban defined choreutics as “the practical study of harmonized movement.” Latter day colleagues of Laban’s, such as Valerie Preston-Dunlop and Vera Maletic, have delineated Choreutics respectively as t...
MODERN DANCE II TERM: SPRING – 2026 January 12 – April 27 University of Miami Frost School of Music – Dance Program DAN 211- R (5766) / Modern Dance II – 3 Units Meeting time: Tuesday & Thursday 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM Location: Wellness Center – Studio: Multi B Lecturer: Jorge L. Morejón PhD Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday: 11:20 AM - 12:20 PM / by appointment j.morejon@umiami.edu UM’s Academic Calendar: https://registrar.miami.edu/_assets/pdf/spring-2026-commencement-6-24-2026mc.pdf Bulletin Description: This course will introduce students to the fundamental components of Modern Dance. The course will expose students to the movement principles of Modern Dance pioneers such as Ruth Saint Dennis, Ted Shawn and Isadora Duncan. The course will reference different Modern Dance techniques such as Graham, Horton, Limon and Cunningham using movement in an experiential and creative way. Prerequisites : There is no prerequisite and the...
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