Expressionist dance

[3] Expressionist dance was marked by the passage of modernism, vitalism, expressionism, avant-garde and a general protest against artistic stagnation and the old society.

The forerunners in Europe included Clotilde von Derp, Hertha Feist, Hilde Holger, Loie Fuller, Jo Mihaly and especially Mary Wigman.

In her school in Dresden (opened in 1920) she taught Europe's premier aspiring dancers Gret Palucca, Harald Kreutzberg, Jeanna Falk, Dore Hoyer and Yvonne Georgi.

[5] The Denishawn School in the United States was founded by Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn, with such students as Martha Graham and Doris Humphrey.

The British choreographer and live performer Liz Aggiss, who trained with Hanya Holm and Hilde Holger, has been making expressionist dance works since 1986.

In 1992, Holger revived four dances for Aggiss from her repertoire: Die Forelle (The Trout) (1923), Le Martyre de San Sebastien (1923), Mechaniches Ballett (1926) and Golem (1937).

[6] Sophie Constanti wrote that 'Together all four pieces danced with great sensitivity and aplomb by Aggiss...provided a fascinating insight into the lost Ausdruckstanz of central Europe.

Mary Wigman (centre), a pioneer of expressionist dance, with students at her Berlin dance studio, 1959.
Loie Fuller 1902.
Ruth St. Denis , the ancient Egyptian, 1910.
Isadora Duncan at the sea front 1915.
Hilde Holger 1926.
Dance students from Rudolf von Laban ’s dance school 1930.
Emmy Towsey (Taussig) and Evelyn Ippen, Bodenwieser Ballet in Centennial Park [ 1 ] in Sydney , Australia ca. 1939.