Isadora Duncan is considered a forerunner of modern dance. In the early 20th century she began dancing in barefeet and loose clothing. Her movement typically present broken body lines, feet that were not pointed or turned out. In other words, eveyrthing she stood for as a dancer was the opposite of ballet, the prevailent dance form at the time. The theme of her work was often centered around nature and greek mythology. She was also known as an outspoken feminist seeking to free women from strict manners and clothing as reflected in her dances. Other famous modern dancers/choreographers at the time include Ruth St. Denis, Loie Fuller, and Pearl Primus.
Martha Graham is from the next generation of modern dancers often referred to as "Pioneers". She began her dance training under Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn in New York City. Graham is one of the few dancers that codified her own modern technique that is taught and performed around the world today. Graham technique is based on breath, body contractions, and falling. Her most famous works include Lamentations and Mapple Leaf Rag which are still performed by the Marth Graham Dance Company today. She has had a very tumultuous love life but for a short period, she was married to another modern pioneer Erick Hawkins. Other famous modern dancers/choreographers at the time include Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham, and Lester Horton.
Alvin Ailey was "Second Generation Pioneer" trained by Lester Horton. Though Ailey does not have a codified technique, dancers in his company are known to be extremely strong yet flexible dancers that can endure through a performance of highly physical choreographic works. This ability is however due to Horton technique which calls for strong core muscles and trains the dancer to move quickly through space. Ailey founded the first modern dance company to be soled comprised of African American dancers called Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in 1959. Today, AAADT also famous for preserving and celebrating African American heritage and culture through dance. Famous works created by Ailey and still performed by the company include Revelations and Cry. Other famous dancers from this time period are Jose Limon, Hanya Holm, and Doris Humphrey
Twyla Tharp is considered part of the Post Modern Movement in modern dance. This group of dancers drastically deviated from the norms that had been set in modern dance since its beginning. They were fixated on pedestrian movement rather than precise technique. They tended to incorporate the dancer's voice in the music. They also liked to what is called site specific work. Rather than performing in a theatre or concert hall, these choreographers were have their performed in outdoor parks, or abandoned buildings to see how the space could lend itself to the performance. Tharp is unique because she presents work in jazz and collaborates with famous ballet dancers such as Mikahail Baryshnikov in addition to her work in modern dance. Her work is performed by her own company, Twyla Tharp Dance, as well as world-renowned American Ballet Theatre and Joeffrey Ballet. Tharp's choreography that mixed modern, jazz, and ballet. started a trend in what is now known as contemporary ballet. Other dancers and choreographers from this time are Bill T Jones, Trisha Brown, and Pina Bausch
