During the Italian Renaissance, Comenico da Piacenza taught a dancer to pursue the aesthetic ideal, a momentous step from the ruled social movement in court dance. When Balanchine and Kirstein founded the School of American Ballet in 1934, they established the neoclassical form, moved by aesthetic inspiration, classical grace and beauty.
Formal 19th century aristocratic order cherished in the court's minuet turned to social engagement early to mid-century upon the invention and popular acceptance of the Waltz, an easy movement in intimacy between a pair of dancers.
Martha Graham, from 1935, instilled a belief in emotion and telling passion expressed in a faithful aesthetic movement that is natural, grounded and improvisational, departing from the lofty grace and theatrical beauty of classical ballet.
Adding a commitment to fair musical rhythm to the steps previously seen in American clog dancing, tap dance engaged the heart and feet in sounding out a distinctive interpretation during the 1900s.
Commanding impulsive expressions and isolated movements, inspired by improvisation, made the rhythmic dance of Jack Cole ready for a 1950s debut on Broadway in Jerome Robbins' "West Side Story."