MBC: Thanks so much for talking with us today, Trumpet.
T: Hey, no problem.
MBC: So, Trumpet, just what group do you identify with?
T: Well, that's a good question. I am brass, baby. But I am part of the wind instruments, too.
MBC: Do you have much of a history with this group?
T: Yes, indeed. I have been made out of wood, bone, cane, ivory, and all kinds of precious metals. Did you know I once was used to banish evil spirits, summon gods, and inspire soldiers?
MBC: Um, well, no I didn't. But I sure do now...
T: Yes. In fact, I date back from the days of Tutankhamen, the ancient pharaoh of Egypt. I was made of silver then, and about 18 inches long. You can see me in the wall paintings of that time. I am even mentioned in the ancient text of the Judeo-Christians, the Bible. There I was called a shofar or a hazozorah, made of ram's horn or metal. Boy, those were the days...
MBC: Yeah, um. OK. So, describe what defines you today. What makes you tick?
T: These days, I have a lot of contraptions which allow me to make all kinds of notes. I use valves, mouthpieces, and keys. But let me tell you about when I got to medieval Europe. I came with the Crusaders, and I started to sport a nice bell at the end, and was really, really long...
MBC: To get back to today...
T: ...and was curved into an S shape...that was really uncomfortable...
MBC: So, you were upset about that. Tell me.
T: No, I wasn't too upset. I could play many more notes because I was longer. Bach and Monteverdi really wrote some great music for me.
MBC: You weren't upset that they bent and twisted you from your natural shape?
T: No, really, I wasn't.
MBC: Alright, good. So today you have some additions. Why don't you talk about those?
T: Time and technology have enhanced my image. I now use slides, which allow me to play in several keys, and more advanced keys. The great composers Haydn and Hummel wrote their concertos for this kind of trumpet.
MBC: I hear you put the players through dangerous times back then.
T: Yes, well, that was the only way to play. You see, it was so difficult to get the really high notes out of me (before I had up-to-date valves) that the performers would have to blow really, really hard. Sometimes they burst blood vessels in their brains.
MBC: NO WAY!!
T: Yep. Most performers wore really tight leather headgear to keep more from bursting. Oh, well, that's the price they paid for their art. You know, sometimes their eyes would bug out and...
MBC: Ok, Ok. That's all we have time for. Thanks so much for your time. Good luck to you!!

You can't define it. You can't classify it. Modern dance is a point of view.

Modern Dance stresses individuality of expression over uniformity of method...

Ok, hold on. What does all that MEAN?
Well, it started back at the turn of the century, around 1900. America was a country of growth, prosperity, and soon, lots of machines. It was an age of elevators, escalators, trains, and planes. Everyone seemed to be looking forward as far as possible. It is not surprising, then, that traditional activities were less popular. This same attitude affected dance. Ballet is traditional, with a special style that has no fit rules and regulations. Some dancers started experimenting with colored lights, draperies, ancient dances, dances from the far east, anything and everything that was not European, and definitely not traditional. These dancers wanted to express themselves as creative individuals, not as just another version of what came before.

Since when is 1900 modern?
Ok, so a lot has happened since then. Two world wars, the computer, landing on the moon...but back then, their "today" was modern as ever. Our modern dance is still changing, though, just like every other invention. In the 1960's (ok, still not modern, but getting closer) there was a huge explosion of modern dance creativity, where NO one wanted to imitate anything...everything had to be NEW. Dance had to represent the machine age and the personality of the artist. They threw out their dance slippers and went barefoot. They stopped trying to look like they were flying and danced close to the ground, used heavy motions, and stomped instead of glided. The only rule was:

THERE ARE NO RULES.

Therefore: Modern dance stresses individuality of expression over uniformity of method.

Do modern dancers have to practice?
Yes! Even though modern dance is made up of every-day actions and looks random, modern dancers have to rehearse as much as any other dancers.

Do modern dancers have to be strong?
Absolutely. You may watch these dancers perform and think what they are doing looks easy, but it requires a lot of physical and mental strength. Their bodies have to be strong to help them jump smoothly, stomp for a long time, or even hold one position steadily. Their minds have to be strong to keep track of what they are doing, where they have to be, where the other dancers are, what the music is doing, and on and on.

Can anyone be a modern dancer?
Yes. One of the great things about modern dance is that anything goes. There are modern dancers who perform from their wheelchairs, using crutches, or even dancing with only one leg or arm. If you have something to say, you can dance.