Modern dance is a broad Western concert dance genre that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Europe and the U.S. It arose as a rebellion against classical ballet's rigid structures, seeking greater freedom of movement and a way to express social concerns. Pioneers like Isadora Duncan, Maud Allan, and Loie Fuller led this early "free dance" movement, discarding ballet's strict vocabulary, corsets, and pointe shoes.
In the U.S., modern dance developed through three distinct periods. The Early Modern period (c. 1880–1923) saw radical artistic changes, while the Central Modern period (c. 1923–1946) featured iconic choreographers such as Martha Graham, Doris Humphrey, and Lester Horton, who developed distinct American movement styles and globally recognized training systems. By the Late Modern period (c. 1946–1957), artists like Merce Cunningham introduced abstraction and avant-garde movements, eventually paving the way for postmodern dance. Modern dance continues to evolve, with techniques from choreographers like Graham and Horton still taught worldwide today.