Modern dance is a form where emotions, feelings and ideas could be readily expressed, and were more important than tricks and technical virtuosity. New and abstract forms in the worlds of music, theatre and visual art have always influenced modern dancers.

Modern dance has continued to grow and develop over the past 100 years, and many names have been added to the list of modern dance greats: Paul Taylor, Merce Cunningham, Katharine Dunham, Alvin Ailey and Twyla Tharp, to name a few. Although these artists are diverse in their approaches and aesthetic, the common thread that ties them all together is the creative and individual way in which they approach art.