Influences and training

Wigman was first inspired to dance after seeing some of Jaques Dalcroze's students perform in 1910 in Amsterdam. After this she protested against her parents and enrolled in Dalcroze's school, which specialized in rhythmic gymnastics. She trained there for approximately two years and then with the encouragement of Emil Nolde, who was an expressionist painter, went to Switzerland and took summer lessons with Laban in 1913. Wigman found she enjoyed this style of dance rather then the strict and precise movements of rhythmic gymnastics.
After several years studying with Laban she became his assistant in 1919. She soon departed from Laban since she found Laban was to invested with his theories. In contrast, she was more passionate with moving and freeing the body, which led her to discover her own personal ideas of dance. Shortly following, Wigman opened up her own school in Dresden, Germany in 1920.
 With all these influences, she created a form of dance called, Absolute Dance. Absolute dance was often expressive. It was a combination of her training between Dalcroze and Laban, her driven personality, heritage, and the atmosphere of pre-nazi Europe. In addition to the influences, Wigman was also drawn to counter direction and spatial pulls with Laban's articulate technique.