by Lucy Vurusic Riner

My husband took me to see the Chicago Moving Company on our first date back in 1996.  A smart, and thoughtful, move on his part because eleven years and two kids later, we are going strong.

But when we look back on that first date now, Jim often reminds me how that first experience watching modern dance was very alienating for him.  Of course, I didn’t know any of this at the time so I continued to drag him from one modern dance concert to another.  It wasn’t until many years later that we candidly talked about how audience members can easily be disconnected from modern dance; especially if they walk in trying too hard to understand from the get go.

Historically, the novice dance audience member has obsessively tried to understand everything that is happening on stage.  Ballet generally tells a narrative story with some pantomime and lots of theatrical elements that help guide the story.  The program generally has some sort of director’s notes to give a brief synopsis of what the inspiration behind the ballet is and so the audience member is able to sit back and enjoy watching some beautiful dancing.  The general public also has a perception of ballet dance and what it is.  Even if it might not always correct, most people can conjure some sort of image of what they believe they might see if at the ballet.

Jazz dance provides audience members with excitement and particularly in America, it is one of the oldest forms of dance entertainment.  There is precision, technical feats and a lot of flash to keep the audience engaged.  So how do we entice the non-dancer to experience modern dance and “learn” how to watch it?

Theoretically, it hasn’t been around nearly as long as its counterparts.  Every time I begin a new quarter of dance at school I have at least one student ask me what modern dance is.  I have never had anyone ask me that about ballet or jazz.  So after many years of performing, choreographing and most importantly, watching modern dance, here’s what I think (and sometimes don’t think) when I’m watching it: [Read more…]