WHY HORTON TECHNIQUE?
The Horton technique was created and developed by American modern dance pioneer Lester Horton in the 1930's and 40's. Its evolution stemmed from Horton's classical foundations, his experimental approach to movement and his fascination with Native American folklore, Afro-Caribbean, Japanese and Indonesian traditional dance.
Distinguished by its corrective anatomical focus and highly stylised aesthetic, the Horton technique promotes a well rounded, refined, fiercely athletic and expressive dance artist. A Horton class is progressive in nature; beginning with a warm-up that includes flat backs, lateral stretches, foot articulations and leg swings, followed by more complex studies or fortifications that focus on a specific physicality or movement quality. Amongst others, its application is recognised in the works of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre.
Alvin Ailey, a protégé of Lester Horton, created the masterpiece Revelations, using the technique as its premise. The Ailey School continues the legacy of both Horton and Ailey, not only in the physical training of their dancers but in their quest for inclusivity and freedom of expression.