Modern Dance History WebQuest

Introduction

Introduction: The contributions of historical dance pioneers impacted the evolution of dance. Doris Humphrey was among a group of historical geniuses that created the art of modern dance. While as different from each other in style, background, and influence as ballet from modern dance, they were united in purpose. They wanted to create a new theatrical dance form that was serious, unique, and most empathetically not classical ballet.

Essential Question: How did Doris Humphrey impact, influence, and contribute to American modern dance?

Task

Task: Students are expected to conduct online research via a WebQuest. Students will rsearch the history and contibutions of American modern dance pioneer, Doris Humphrey, and answer the constructed response questions below.

Essential Question: How did Doris Humphrey impact, influence, and contribute to American modern dance?

Additional Essential Questions:What technique did Humphrey develop? What are the elements of this technique?

WebQuest

Constructed Response Questions:

What facts did you learn about Doris Humphrey?

1) Doris Humphrey is known as one of the founders of ____________________ ____________________ ____________________.

2) How did her dance career shift after the First World War?

3) How did Humphrey’s generation approach toward dance differ from ballet? What was her intention for her work?

4) By the age of 20, what dance experience had Humphrey possessed?

5) In order to further peruse her dance career, what did Humphrey’s teacher, Mary Wood Hinman, suggest for her to do?

6) What dance company did she join and where?

7) Why did she eventually move on from that endeavor?

8) How did Humphrey start her independent career?

9) Why didn’t the Humphrey-Weidman Company last beyond World War II?

10) Who became Humphrey’s protégé?

11) Describe Humphrey’s interactions/relationship with her protégé.

12) What technique did Humphrey develop over time?

Explain and/or describe it in as much detail as possible. Utilize the additional resources to further your research on this technique.

13) How did Humphrey’s theory/technique influence her protégé’s technical style?

14) What popular performing arts school in New York did Humphrey teach and direct a pre-professional dance company?

15) What is the name of Doris Humphrey’s book on choreography?

For students who finish early…

Research quotes made by Doris Humphrey and write them down.
Conduct additional research on Humphrey’s protégé.

Process

Instructions: Go to the following website to conduct your research on Doris Homphrey. Click on the link below or copy and paste to the web browser. Follow the same instructions for the additional resources.

Additional Resources:

http://biography.yourdictionary.com/doris-humphrey

http://www.pitt.edu/~gillis/dance/doris.html

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Doris-Humphrey

http://www.dorishumphrey.org/the-early-years/

http://www.dance-teacher.com/2014/04/doris-humphrey/

http://www.danceheritage.org/humphrey.html

Evaluation

Students work will be assessed utilizing the following rubric:

WebQuest Rubric: How did Doris Humphrey impact, influence, and contribute to American modern dance?

Score	Description
4	The response demonstrates an understanding of the complexities of the text. Fully addresses the demands of the question or prompt. Effectively uses explicitly stated text as well as inferences drawn from the test to support an answer or claim
3	The response demonstrates an understanding of the text. Addresses the demands of the question or prompt. Uses some explicitly stated text and/or some inferences drawn from the text to support an answer or claim.
2	The response is incomplete or oversimplified and demonstrates a partial or literal understanding of the text. Attempts to answer the question or address the prompt. Uses explicitly stated text that demonstrates some understanding
1	The response shows evidence of a minimal understanding of text. Shows evidence that some meaning has been derived from the text to answer the question Has minimal textual evidence
0	No response provided

Scoring Breakdown: 15 Questions x 4 Points Each = 60 Possible Points

Conclusion

The focus of this WebQuest is to gain knowledge about American modern dancer, choreographer, and author, Doris Humphrey.
The intent of this lesson and research is to understand Humphrey's backgroud and her development of her unique technique theory.
This technique theory will be applied in dance class via warm-up, technique, improviation, and movement combinations.
There are ten elements associated with Humphrey's technique theory that will be identified as the core fundamentals.