No, really. So what?
Answering this question feels wrong and borderline offensive. So what? Pina riffed off of German expressionism in modern dance and rode with it until she was dubbed "Queen of Dance Theater." She practically invented "Tanztheater," and though technically she didn't, try telling Google that...
Pina pioneered an art form that pushed modern dance to be something more than vague and emotional. Dance Theatre makes dance more accessible to general audiences and pushes the subtext for experienced dance audiences. It is practiced by professional performing companies and universities all around the world; it gives older generations of dancers the opportunity to keep performing and creating without having the keep up with the technical virtuosity of an 18 year old Julliard Student.
We talk about what sparks change in dance, why things must change, how they change, what they change to -- the creation and flourish of Dance Theatre is the most incredible, recent example of innovation in dance. Dance changes because of social, political movements: dance theatre can easily and provocatively express, protest, and make clear, concise, incredible statements in reaction to those movements. Dance changes to appeal to audiences: dance theatre makes dance accessible to all audiences, using text, singing, dialogue, and other day-to-day interactions to further a narrative. Dance changes in order to find more innovative ways to express oneself on stage: in dance theater, literally anything goes. Call it crazy, disgusting, confusing, unacceptable, vile--it has probably been featured in a dance theater piece. What could be more innovative than a form where you can do anything and no one can tell you it's wrong?
Dance changes because it needs to change; Pina was the change that dance needed.
We talk about what sparks change in dance, why things must change, how they change, what they change to -- the creation and flourish of Dance Theatre is the most incredible, recent example of innovation in dance. Dance changes because of social, political movements: dance theatre can easily and provocatively express, protest, and make clear, concise, incredible statements in reaction to those movements. Dance changes to appeal to audiences: dance theatre makes dance accessible to all audiences, using text, singing, dialogue, and other day-to-day interactions to further a narrative. Dance changes in order to find more innovative ways to express oneself on stage: in dance theater, literally anything goes. Call it crazy, disgusting, confusing, unacceptable, vile--it has probably been featured in a dance theater piece. What could be more innovative than a form where you can do anything and no one can tell you it's wrong?
Dance changes because it needs to change; Pina was the change that dance needed.
Personal Takeaway
Below, I have attached my own personal takeaway of this piece: a video of me performing a brief snippet of Pina's choreography, a short paper explaining that process, and a summary of my research.
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