Jean-Georges Noverre, an 18th-century French dancer and choreographer, is widely regarded as the father of modern ballet and is credited with developing the concept of choreography as a distinct art form.

Labanotation is a dance notation system developed by Rudolf von Laban in the early 20th century. It is a widely used system for recording and analyzing dance movements.

Katherine Dunham was an American dancer, choreographer, anthropologist, and social activist. She is known for her work on the history of African dance and for her contributions to the development of modern dance.

Modern dance is a dance form that emerged in the United States in the early 20th century and is characterized by its improvisational nature and rejection of traditional ballet techniques.

George Balanchine was a Russian-American choreographer and ballet master. He is known for his work on the history of ballet and for his contributions to the development of neoclassical ballet.

Postmodern dance is a dance form that emerged in the United States in the 1960s and is characterized by its experimental nature and rejection of traditional dance conventions.

Marshall Stearns was an American musicologist and dance historian. He is known for his work on the history of jazz dance and for his contributions to the development of jazz studies.

Contemporary dance is a dance form that emerged in the United States in the 1970s and is characterized by its focus on the body as a site of political and social expression.

Bill Bojangles Robinson was an American tap dancer, actor, and singer. He is known for his work on the history of tap dance and for his contributions to the development of tap dance as a performing art.

Butoh is a dance form that emerged in Japan in the 1960s and is characterized by its slow, deliberate movements and focus on the body as a site of spiritual and emotional expression.

Antonio Gades was a Spanish dancer, choreographer, and actor. He is known for his work on the history of flamenco dance and for his contributions to the development of flamenco as a performing art.

Contact improvisation is a dance form that emerged in the United States in the 1980s and is characterized by its focus on the relationship between the dancer and the audience.

Afrika Bambaataa is an American DJ, rapper, and producer. He is known for his work on the history of hip hop dance and for his contributions to the development of hip hop as a cultural movement.

Hip hop dance is a dance form that emerged in the United States in the 1990s and is characterized by its focus on the body as a site of cultural and political resistance.

Eddie Torres is an American dancer, choreographer, and instructor. He is known for his work on the history of salsa dance and for his contributions to the development of salsa as a performing art.