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Period: 200,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE
Paleolithic Period
The start date is actually 2 million years ago but this is the earliest the website lets me enter a start date. -
Period: 9500 BCE to 4500 BCE
Neolithic Period
We know people danced in this timeframe because of rock paintings depicting dance. -
Period: 776 BCE to 600
Ancient Greece
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600 BCE
Satyr
Male nature spirit with ears and a tail resembling those of a horse. He was popular around 600 BC. -
450 BCE
Terpsichore Birth
One of the muses of dance. Daughter of Zeus. Immortal. -
440 BCE
Apollo Birth
God of light, music, poetry, philosophy, and healing. Although turned human by his father Zeus, he gained godhood again after defeating Python, so he is immortal. -
400 BCE
Satyr Plays
Form of Attic theater performance in Greece related to both comedy and tragedy. Popular in the 400's BC. -
350 BCE
Dionysus Birth
God of wine, fertility, lasciviousness, and insanity. Dithyramb was a form of honor to the god Dionysus. He was the son of Zeus, who was the god of weather and atmospheric phenomena, but does not have a specific date of birth or death. He was immortal so there was not a death date found. -
Period: 100 BCE to 600
Pantomime
An ancient Roman dramatic performance featuring a solo dancer and narrative chorus. -
Period: 100 BCE to 100
Pyrrhic Dance
Best known war dance of the Greeks. Popular between 100 BC and 100 AD. -
Period: 27 BCE to 1453
Roman Empire
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400
Roman Circus
Large open-air venue used for public events in the ancient Rome Empire. Popular around 400 AD. -
Period: 400 to 1300
Middle Ages
Popular dances included: Labyrinth dances, Ring dances, Dans Macabre, Line dance. -
Period: 1300 to
Danceomania
Dance consisted on groups of people dancing erotically, thousands at a time. -
Period: 1300 to
Renaissance
Promoted the residency of classical philosophy, literature, and art.
Dances include: Pavane dance, Galliard dance, Courante dance, Saraband dance. -
Period: 1400 to 1500
Basse Dance
Popular court dance. Partners move quietly and gracefully in a slow gliding or walking motion without leaving the floor. -
Period: 1500 to
African Diaspora
The African Diaspora refers to the movement of black Africans and their descendants throughout the world. -
Period: Apr 13, 1519 to
Catherine de Medici
Organized court festivals in France to try and distract from fighting. -
Period: Mar 17, 1520 to
Thoitnot Arbeu
Theoretician and historian of dance. Wrote the dance manuscript "Orchesography". -
Period: 1580 to
Baroque Era
Period in which architecture, music, dance, painting, sculpture, and other arts flourished in Europe. Allemande was the most common dance style in Baroque music. -
Oct 15, 1581
Ballet La Comique de La Reine
First recorded ballet performance, directed by Balthazar Beaujoyeulx. -
Period: to
Pierre Beauchamp
Choreographer known for developing the 5 foot positions of dance. -
Period: to
Jean-Babtiste de Lully
Composer of elegant, sophisticated music. -
Period: to
King Louis XIV
King of France known for his absolute power and reign of 72 years. -
Paris Opera
Primary opera and ballet company of France founded by King Louis XIV. -
Period: to
Marie de Camargo
French dancer who was first to execute the entrechat quatre. -
Period: to
Jean George Noverre
He was known as an major advocate of ballet d'action. -
Period: to
Filippo Taglioni
Choreographer. Most famous ballet is La Sylphide. -
Time step
Base of the Shim Sham. -
Period: to
Classical Ballet
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Period: to
Marie Taglioni
Ballet dancer who was the daughter of choreographer Filippo Taglioni. Her famous roles were in La Sylphide and Pas de Quatre. -
Period: to
August Bournonville
Choreographer. Most famous ballets were La Sylphide, Napoli, Flower Festival in Genzano and the Kemesse in Bruges. -
Period: to
Thomas D. Rice
Rice was a white comedian who is given the credit for popularizing blackface. -
Period: to
Fanny Elssler
Ballet dancer. Her famous roles were in Cachucha, La Sylphide, Giselle, and La Esmeralda. -
Period: to
Jules Perrot
Choreographer. Most famous ballets were Pas de Quatre, La Esmeralda, Ondine, and Giselle. -
Period: to
Fanny Cerrito
Italian dancer and choreographer. Her famous roles were in Pas de Quatre, Le Jugement de Paris, and Alma ou La Fille de feu. -
Period: to
Carlotta Grisis
Italian ballet dancer. Her famous roles were in Giselle, La Peri, and Pas de Quatre. -
Period: to
Lucile Grahn
Ballet dancer. Her famous roles were in Valdemar, La Sylphide, and Pas de Quatre. -
Period: to
Master Juba
One of the first African American performers in the U.S. to play onstage for a white audience. -
Period: to
Romantic Ballet
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La Sylphide
Romantic ballet performance choreographed originally by Filippo Taglioni. -
Period: to
Tony Pastor
He was responsible for creating a more family friendly Vaudeville show. -
Giselle
Romantic ballet performance choreographed by Jules Perrot and Jean Coralli. -
Period: to
Christy’s Minstrels
The Christy’s Minstrels were an all black performance troupe formed in 1843. They were known for solidifying the 3 act form. -
Pas de Quatre
Romantic ballet performance choreographed by Jules Perrot. -
Period: to
Enrico Cecchetti
In 1918, he opened a ballet school in London and was instrumental in developing ballet in England. -
Period: to
Minstrelsy
It is defined as an American entertainment form consisting of comic skits, variety acts, dancing and music. It is the 1st distinctly American theatrical form. -
Period: to
Loie Fuller
Modern dancer known for contributing to dance production innovations. -
The Black Crook
First modern musical. -
Period: to
Serge Diaghilev
He was not a dancer or choreographer but he would hire famous artists to style his shows in Ballet Russe. -
Period: to
Isadora Duncan
Eccentric woman and modern dance who was surrounded by drama all her life. -
Period: to
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson
He was famous that he got to break the Vaudeville rule of holding a white girl's hand as a black person. -
Period: to
Ruth St. Denis
Founded Denishawn Dance Company with Ted Shawn. -
Period: to
Agrippina Vaganova
Called the "Queen of variations". She fought to preserve the traditions of Petipa and the Imperial Ballet. -
Period: to
Rudolf Von Laban
His work laid foundations for Labanotation and other more specific developments in dance notation. Pioneer of modern dance in Europe. -
Buck and Wing
Precursor to modern tap. -
Period: to
Vaudeville
Vaudeville is defined as a genre of variety entertainment prevalent in the U.S. and Canada from early 1880s-the early 1930s. -
Period: to
Michel Fokine
His famous choreographies were The Dying Swan, Petrushka, and Firebird. -
Period: to
Mary Wigman
Known for being an expressionist dancer and is considered one of the most important figures in the history of modern dance. -
Period: to
Vaslov Nijinsky
He choreographed Afternoon of a Faun and The Rite of Spring in Ballet Russe. -
Sleeping Beauty Ballet
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Period: to
Asadata Dafora
One of the first Africans to introduce African drumming music to the U.S. -
Serpentine Dance
Created by Fuller. -
Period: to
Bronislav Nijinska
She choreographed Les Noces for Ballet Russe. She was Vaslov Nijinsky's younger sister. -
Period: to
Ted Shawn
Founded Denishawn Dance Company. -
The Nutcracker Ballet
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Period: to
Hanya Holm
She had a University of dance that taught dance notation and music. -
Period: to
Martha Graham
American modern dance pioneer. Her technique reshaped American dance. -
Swan Lake Ballet
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Fire Dance
Created by Fuller. -
Period: to
Oscar Hammerstein II
Partnered with Richard Rogers to make popular musicals. -
Period: to
Doris Humphrey
American dancer that was one of the second generation modern dance pioneers. -
Period: to
Leonide Massine
He choreographed Parade for Ballet Russe. -
Period: to
Adele Astaire
Started off with musicals with her brother Fred Astaire and retired when she got married. -
Period: to
Fred Astaire
Started off with musicals with his sister Adele Astaire then headed off to Hollywood. -
Modern Dance
Started in early 1900s and is still danced today. -
Period: to
Kurt Joss
He choreographed The Green Table. -
Period: to
Charles Weidman
One of the pioneers of modern dance in America -
Period: to
John William Sublett
Famous singer and dancer known for being in the due "Buck and Bubbles". -
Period: to
Richard Rogers
Partnered with Oscar Hammerstein II to make popular musicals. -
The Wizard of OZ
One of the most memorable early 1900s musical. -
Babes in Toyland
One of the most memorable early 1900s musical. -
Period: to
Ford Lee "Buck" Washington
Famous pianist and dancer known for being in the duo "Buck and Bubbles". -
Period: to
George Balanchine
Choreographer who started the School of American Ballet with Lincoln Kirsten in 1934. -
Period: to
Agnes de Mille
She wanted to be an actress at first but eventually turned to dance. She trained with Marie Rambert and Antony Tudor. -
Period: to
Lincoln Kirsten
Writer who was intrigued by ballet. Started the School of American Ballet with George Balanchine in 1934. -
Period: to
Anthony Tudor
Choreographer who created Jardin Aux Lilas, Dark Elegies, and The Leaves are Fading. -
Period: to
Ballet Russes
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Period: to
Katherine Dunham
Creator of the Dunham technique. She had one of the most successful dance careers in African American and European theaters in the 20th century. -
Period: to
Alwin Nikolais
He believed "the art of the motion which, left on its own merits becomes the message as well as the medium". -
Period: to
Ginger Rogers
She became widely known after partnering with Fred Astaire. -
Period: to
Gene Kelly
Began his dance career when he was a child. He hated it because he would get teased about it but he returned to the dance world when he was a teenager to talk to girls. -
Period: to
Fayard Nichols
Part of the Nichols brothers and they were the only black act allowed to mingle with white patrons in Harlem's Cotton Club. -
Period: to
Denishawn Dance Company
First dance academy in the U.S. to produce a professional dance company. -
Isadorables
Group of 6 dancers who were adopted by Isadora Duncan and performed all over the world. -
Period: to
Merce Cunningham
His technique was called modern on top and ballet on the bottom. -
Period: to
Pearl Primus
American dancer who presented African dances to American audiences. -
Black Bottom
Minstrelsy dance. -
Period: to
Neoclassical Ballet Era
A style of ballet that uses traditional ballet vocab and is less rigid than Classical Ballet. It was popular all throughout the 20th century till now. -
Period: to
Harold Nichols
Part of the Nichols brothers and they were the only black act allowed to mingle with white patrons in Harlem's Cotton Club. -
Period: to
Gerald Arpino
Co-founder of the Joffrey Ballet -
The Martha Graham Dance Company
Founded by Martha Graham. Oldest American dance company. -
Vitaphone
An invention that made it possible for films to transition from silent to talking. -
Showboat
The earliest musical with the modern recipe. -
The Jazz Singer
First full-length feature to use a recorded song and dialogue. -
Shim Sham
Tap routine created by Vaudeville performers. -
Labanotation
Notation system for recording human movement. -
Period: to
Humphrey Weidman Company
Dance company founded by Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. -
Period: to
Shirley Temple
American actress, singer, dancer, and diplomnat in Hollywood. -
Shogolo Oloba
African dance company founded by Asadata Dafora. -
Heretic
Dance that represents ideas of acceptance choreographed by Martha Graham. -
Lamentation
Dance that represents what Graham desired to accomplish when exploring the human condition. -
Period: to
Dream Ballet
Long dance that furthered the story of a musical through movement vs. words. -
Period: to
Paul Taylor
American dancer and choreographer. One of the third generation of America's modern dance artists. -
Period: to
Robert Joffrey
Co-founder of the Joffrey Ballet -
Ostrich Dance
Dance choreographed by Asadata Dafora. -
Jacob's Pillow
Festival founded by Ted Shawn. Started in 1933 and is still celebrated today. -
Kykunkor (The Witch Woman)
Dance choreographed by Asadata Dafora. -
Period: to
Arthur Mitchell
Founded the Dance Theater of Harlem in1968. -
Period: to
Yvonne Rainer
American dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker. Her work is considered minimalist art. She is still alive now -
New Dance
Dance choreographed by Doris Humphrey. -
The Little Colonel
Film with Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Shirley Temple. -
Porgy and Bess
Musical about African American life in a fictitious neighborhood. -
Jardin Aux Lilas Ballet
Caroline- a future bride- throws a farewell party before the wedding and sees the man she really loves among the guests, as well as her fiancé’s mistress. After quick meetings between the bride and her love, the story ends with Caroline leaving on the arm of her betrothed, never having satisfied the desperate longings for the final kiss. -
Lynch Town
Dance choreographed by Weidman. -
Period: to
Trisha Brown
One of the founders of the Judson Dance Theater and the post modern dance movement. -
Dark Elegies Ballet
The accompaniment (songs) of the piece are sung by vocalists onstage while a group of village peasants dance their grief, resignation and acceptance of a tragedy. -
Negro Dance Group
Created by Katherine Dunham. -
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
First animated musical. -
Varsity Show
Film that Buck and Bubbles performed in. -
Opus 51
Dance choreographed by Weidman. -
Barrelhouse Blues
Dance choreographed by Katherine Dunham. -
L'ag'ya
Dance choreographed by Katherine Dunham. -
Period: to
Steve Paxton
Co-founder of Judson Dance Theater and Grand Union. He is still alive now. -
Period: to
The Golden Age of Musicals
A period that hit the perfect cohesive balance between book, music, storyline, songs and dance. -
Period: to
Pina Bausch
Her works were a mix of dance and theater. -
Flickers
Dance choreographed by Weidman. -
Period: to
Twyla Tharp
Formed the Twyla Tharp Dance. She is still alive today. -
Rodeo
Choreographed by De Mille. -
Stormy Weather
Dance performed by Katherine Dunham. -
Oklahoma
First musical of the Golden Age period. -
Stormy Weather
The Nichols brothers show the classic "flash" act in this film. -
Appalachian Spring
Dance originally set on Martha and her husband. Choreographed by Martha Graham. -
On the Town
Display of Americana. -
Cover Girl
Kelly's breakthrough in films with Columbia studios. -
Laban Art of Movement Guild
Organization established by Rudolf Von Laban in England. -
Strange Fruit
Dance choreographed by Pearl Primus. -
Carousel
Choreographed by De Mille. -
Anchors Aweigh
Film by Gene Kelly. -
Period: to
Mats Ek
Choreographed Giselle, Swan Lake, and Carmen. He is still alive. -
The Four Temperaments Ballet
This ballet is one of his earliest ballets, pre-dating the formation of New York City Ballet. It is based on a medieval belief that the body was made of four temperaments. The temperaments were based on the four earth elements (earth, fire, wind, water) and were labeled black bile, blood, phlegm and bile. -
Period: to
Gregory Hines
Starred in the film "Tap" released in 1989 and co-starred with Mikhail Baryshnikov in "White Nights". -
Day on Earth
Dance choreographed by Doris Humphrey. -
Brigadoon
Choreographed by De Mille. -
Period: to
Liz Lerman
She created the "Liz Lerman Toolbox" to expand community dance. She is still alive today. -
Period: to
Jiri Kylian
Choreographed Sarabande, and Petite Mort. He is still alive. -
Period: to
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Choreographed Russian classics like the Nutcracker and Don Quixote. He is still alive. -
Gentleman prefer Blondes
Choreographed by De Mille. -
South Pacific
Musical by Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rogers. -
Guys and Dolls
One of the famous musicals from the Golden Age. -
Cinderella
Live Disney film. -
Nikolais Dance Company
Founded by Alwin Nikolais. -
The King and I
Musical that explored racial tolerance. -
An American in Paris
Musical made specially for film. -
Alice in Wonderland
Live Disney film. -
Paint your Wagon
Choreographed by De Mille. -
Singin' in the Rain
Musical made specially for film. -
Period: to
Ohad Naharin
Choreographer and creator of the Gaga movement language, and House choreographer of Batshera Dance Company. He is still alive. -
Period: to
Alonzo King
His theories of creating work focused on imbuing classical ballet with other movement styles and cultural transitions. He is still alive. -
Period: to
Bill T. Jones
In his works he explores issues that relate to humanity at large. He is still alive today. -
Tensile Involvement
Dance choreographed by Nikolais. -
Peter Pan
Live Disney film. -
Period: to
Merce Cunningham Dance Company
Dance company founded by Merce Cunningham. -
White Christmas
Musical made specially for film. -
The Girl in the Pink Tights
Choreographed by De Mille. -
Period: to
Edouard Lock
Founded La La La Human Steps in 1980. Choreographed for Paris Opera Ballet and The Nederlands Dans Theater. He is still alive. -
The lady and the tramp
Live Disney film. -
Period: to
Kool Herc
Father of Hip-Hop. He is still alive. -
Period: to
William Forsythe
Choreographed In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, The Loss of Small Detail, and One Flat Thing. He founded the Forsythe Company in 2005. He is still alive. -
My Fair Lady
One of the famous musicals from the Golden Age. -
Period: to
Mark Morris
Created the Mark Morris Dance Group and the White Oak Dance Project. He is still alive today. -
The Music Man
One of the famous musicals from the Golden Age. -
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Musical made specially for film. -
Stars and Stripes Ballet
Stars and Stripes is a storyless ballet, but is interesting because it still maintains some of the storied ballet compositional structures. -
Alvin Ailey Dance Theater
Founded by Alvin Ailey. -
Nederlands Dans Theater
A ballet company that has won several awards both nationally and internationally. -
The Sound of Music
One of the famous musicals from the Golden Age. -
Sleeping Beauty
Live Disney film. -
Revelations
Dance choreographed by Alvin Ailey. -
Period: to
Anna Teresa de Keersmaeker
Her dance training started off pretty late and she started the company Rosas. She is still alive today. -
Period: to
Judson Dance Theater
Group of dancers that danced at the Judson Memorial Church. -
"Click" from Imago
Dance choreographed by Nikolais. -
The Fiddler on the Roof
Musical that explored Jewish subjects and issues. -
Mary Poppins
Live Disney film. -
Trio A
Dance choreographed by Yvonne Rainer. -
Cabaret
Musical by Bob Fosse. -
Period: to
Sol Leon
Partnered with Paul Lightfoot in choreographies for Nederlands Dans Theater. She is still alive. -
Period: to
Paul Lightfoot
Joined Nederlands Dans Theater in 1985, choreographed with Sol Leon. He is still alive. -
Jewels Ballet
Jewels is a full-length ballet; a three act plotless ballet. It uses the music of 3 different composers and was inspired by the work of jewelry designer Claude Arpels. The three jewels represented are Emeralds, Diamonds and Rubies. -
Jungle Book
Live Disney film. -
Satisfyin' Lover
Dance choreographed by Steve Paxton. -
Hair
Musical that explored issues of homosexuality and sexuality in general, drugs, the Vietnam War, questioning the government, and contained a nude scene. -
Contact Improvisation
Developed by Paxton and others in the 70's. Based on the ideas that all humans can dance and contribute to the movement conversation. -
Period: to
Wayne McGregor
Artistic Director of Studio Wayne McGregor and Resident Choreographer of the Royal Ballet. He is still alive. -
Cry
Dance choreographed by Alvin Ailey. -
Pilobolus
American Modern Dance Company that was known for finding beauty in unexpected places. -
Dance on Camera
Genre of dance where emphasis is on craft and composition of the movement for the camera. -
Jesus Christ Superstar
Rock musical. -
Clous Gate Dance Theater
Modern dance group based in Taiwan. -
Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch
Company renamed by Pina Bausch -
The Rocky Horror Show
Rock musical. -
Period: to
Savion Glover
Became the youngest person to receive a scholarship at Newark Community School of the Arts. He is still alive. -
The Leaves are Fading Ballet
This ballet is a near-plotless work; rather it is more a series of wistful romantic duets for seven couples; the seven couples seem to embody a woman’s nostalgic memories. -
Esplanade
Dance choreographed by Paul Taylor. -
The Rite of Spring
Dance choreographed by Pina Bausch. -
Sankai Juku
Internationally known butoh dance troupe. -
Chicago
Musical by Bob Fosse. -
A Chorus Line
Its formula completely departed from everything around it. -
The Dance Exchange
Founded by Liz Lerman. A professional dance company that performs as a broad definition of dance. -
Push Comes to Shove
Dance choreographed by Twyla Tharp. -
Accumulation with Talking plus Water Motor
Dance choreographed by Trisha Brown. -
Kontakthof
Dance choreographed by Pina Bausch. -
Grease
Musical popular in the 70s. -
All that Jazz
Musical popular in the 70s. -
Glacial Decoy
Dance choreographed by Trisha Brown. -
Evita
Big budget musical. -
Period: to
Contemporary Period
Post-modern artists who found their way back to some of the more formal structures of dance. -
Channel/ Inserts
Dance choreographed by Merce Cunningham. -
Nelken
Dance choreographed by Pina Bausch. -
Rosas danst Rosas
Dance choreographed by de Keersmaeker. -
Creole Giselle Ballet
The story is mostly the same as the original Giselle, but the location is now set in 1840s Louisiana. Giselle is not a peasant in love with an aristocrat; rather she is in love with a black man who has a higher social status. -
Crucible
Dance choreographed by Nikolais. -
"Shadow Dance" from Liturgies
Dance choreographed by Nikolais. -
White Nights
Film starring Gregory Hines and Mikhail Baryshnikov. -
DV8
A company in England led by Lloyd Newson with a group of dancers who were frustrated with the dance scene at the time. -
The Phantom of the Opera
Big budget musical. -
In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated Ballet
Sarah Crompton (writer for The Guardian) said of the piece “In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated – “which, despite its fierce, modern appearance is structured as a very traditional theme and variations – seems to represent a classic order tilting towards change and disruption.” -
L'Allegro, Ill Penseroso ed il Moderato
Dance choreographed by Mark Morris. -
Dead Dreams of Monochrome Men
Dance choreographed by DV8. -
The Little Mermaid
Animated film by Disney. -
National Tap Day
Celebration of tap dance as an American art form. -
Sarabande Ballet
This piece plays with the idea of masculinity and what it means to be a man. -
Maple Leaf Rag
Dance representation of Martha's softer side. -
Achterland
Dance choreographed by de Keersmaeker. -
Petite Mort Ballet
Originally created for NDT. “petite mort” translated from French means “little death” and is generally used as a euphemism for a sexual orgasm. -
The Hard Nut
Dance choreographed by Mark Morris. -
Beauty and the Beast
Animated film by Disney. -
Strange Fish
Dance choreographed by DV8. -
Aladdin
Animated film by Disney. -
Newsies
Big live musical by Disney. -
The Lion King
Animated film by Disney. -
Rent
Big budget musical. -
Bring in da Noise, Bring in da Funk
Hoofing dance by Savion Glover. -
Pond Way
Dance choreographed by Merce Cunningham. -
Moon Water
Dance choreographed by Clouds Gate Dance Theater. -
South African Suite Ballet
This ballet is a fun demonstration of contemporary ballet performed by members of Dance Theater of Harlem. -
Still/Here
Dance choreographed by Bill T. Jones. -
One Flat Thing Ballet
This piece has been done as both a live stage work and a dance for the camera piece. -
Kajemi- Beyond the Metaphors of Mirrors
Dance choreographed in Sankai Juku. -
Seussical
Disney story turned into a musical. -
Horses never lie
Dance for the camera work. -
Cost of Living
Dance choreographed by DV8. -
After the Rain Ballet
This piece is a full length ballet originally set on NYCB. -
Symbiosis
Dance choreographed by Pilobolus. -
Full Moon
Dance choreographed by Pina Bausch. -
Ferocious Beauty: Genome
Dance choreographed by Lerman. -
Happy Feet
Glover did tap sounds in this film. -
Fondly Do We Hope... Fervently Do We Pray
Dance choreographed by Bill T. Jones. -
"PINA"
Dance choreographed by Pina Bausch. -
The Matter of Origins
Dance choreographed by Lerman. -
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Ballet
It was the first new full length ballet made for the Royal Ballet in 20 years. -
The Loss of Small Detail Ballet
This is a recent piece Forsythe choreographed and is a great demonstration of how he utilizes multiple mediums within his work. -
Hamilton
Musical based on a biography written about Alexander Hamilton. -
Period: to
Jojo Diggs
Talks about dance culture and what you need to know about it. I could not find a birth date for her. -
Period: to
Jade "Soul" Zuberi
Talks about dance culture and what you need to know about it. I could not find a birth date for him.