The Modern Horton Technique

Lester Horton, a dancer, teacher and choreographer born on January 23, 1906, developed the Horton Technique. This form of modern dance borrows heavily from jazz but was also influenced by anatomy and Native American dances. Because Horton died before he could fully document his technique, it is often interpreted differently by different teachers.

  1. Lester Horton

    • Lester Horton was born in 1906. In addition to being a dancer himself, he taught and choreographed over 80 performances and more than 12 films. He established the Lester Horton Dance Theater in Los Angeles in 1946, one of the first theaters devoted solely to modern dance. Between the 1920s and 1940s, Horton developed the Horton Technique of modern dance, incorporating Native American influences into his style of modern dance. Horton also encouraged diversity of race in his classes and performances.

    The Technique

    • The focus of the Horton Technique of modern dance is to correct any weaknesses or imbalances in a student's physical strength and technique. A believer in warming up quickly, many Horton Technique classes begin standing as opposed to other modern dance classes that begin from a seated position. Beginners are taught to strengthen their spine and hamstrings. In addition to improving strength, the Horton Technique also focuses on improving the students' understanding of performance and music.

    Characteristics of the Horton Technique

    • Horton was fascinated by the human form and how it delineated fixed spaces. One focus of the Horton Technique is how the body moves through space. As the Horton Technique focuses on the physical strength of the performer, the Horton Technique incorporates big movements such as big arm and leg movements. Horton also shed a new light on balance with performers holding difficult positions and maintaining their balance for seemingly impossibly long periods of time.

    Notable Students

    • Lester Horton taught his Horton Technique to many notable dancers and choreographers. His most famous pupil is Alvin Ailey, who went on to incorporate the technique into his own performance and also taught the technique in his classes. Other notable pupils of the modern Horton Technique include dancers Bella Lewitzky, Carmen de Lavallade and famed choreographer James Truitte. Horton taught many students who went on to be important and recognizable figures in modern dance, theater and choreography.