What Is Contemporary Dance? A History of Contemporary Dance

Contemporary dance is a style of interpretive dance that embraces innovation, blending techniques from various genres, including classical ballet, jazz, modern dance, and lyrical dance. This genre of dance, which focuses more on floor work over leg work and pointe, isn’t restricted by the rules that govern traditional dance forms. Instead, it relies on improvisation and versatility and is characterized by freedom of movement and fluidity, letting dancers explore the mind-body connection and ideally evoking emotion in the audience.

Contemporary dance is sometimes considered a form of storytelling, and dancers may use the medium to portray characters, replay events, or convey personal stories. Its routines may also communicate abstract ideas, such as ethical values, acceptance of self, and timely social issues. Costumes typically reflect the topic or tone of the accompanying music, and dancers often perform with bare feet. Performers may perform this type of dance to various musical styles, spoken word poems and songs, or silence.

Contemporary dance developed in the twentieth century, thanks to some of the most notable pioneers of modern, postmodern, and contemporary dance:

1. 1. Isadora Duncan: In the early 1900s, American ballet dancer Isadora Duncan rejected the rigid techniques of classical dance and ballet in favor of embracing the human body’s natural lines and energy. In doing so, she aimed to create a dance style with more fluid dance movement and emotional resonance. Other renowned dancers and choreographers quickly followed Duncan’s lead, with each one responsible for innovations that ultimately defined contemporary dance as we know it today.
2. 2. Martha Graham: American choreographer Martha Graham was a pioneer of modern dance. Her innovative style laid much of the groundwork for the contemporary dance movement. She's also responsible for developing the Graham technique, which takes its inspiration from the breathing cycle and has become an intrinsic part of modern dance forms. Her revolutionary approach to dance paired movement with emotion, and her contemporary dance company, which was founded in 1926, still performs today.
3. 3. Lester Horton: Beginning in the 1920s and working for decades, American choreographer Lester Horton developed modern dance techniques inspired by Native American dances. He was also one of the first American choreographers to insist on racial integration in his performances. His legacy lives on in the work of notable contemporary coreographers, including Alvin Ailey and Bella Lewitzky, who studied under Horton as part of his dance company.
4. 4. Merce Cunningham: In the 1940s, American choreographer Merce Cunningham created the groundbreaking Cunningham Technique, an innovative approach to dance training that emphasizes spatial awareness, rhythmic accuracy, and clarity of form. He expanded the genre through his experimentation with technology and sounds other than music, often inspired by the compositions of his partner, John Cage, whose influential sound featured some of the first prepared piano music. Cunningham and Cage introduced a radical concept that was influential in the world of contemporary dance: that composers and choreographers can create music and dance independently, yet still combine them for a single performance.
5. 5. José Limón: In the mid-twentieth century, Mexican choreographer José Limón developed a distinctive masculine movement style while establishing the importance of men in contemporary dance. His choreography often explored themes pulled from religion, literature, religion, and history.
6. 6. Loie Fuller: Fuller was an American dancer who innovated the genre with her experimental colored lighting and the use of silhouettes and silk. She may be best known for creating the serpentine dance, which was inspired by popular skirt dances.
7. 7. Ruth St. Denis: American choreographer Ruth St. Denis created the concept of music visualization, which explored movement equivalents to the musical components, such as rhythm and timbre. Believing that dance should be a spiritual act, she embraced themes that were once thought too philosophical for dance and often pulled techniques from traditional Asian dance forms.

By the 1980s, the term contemporary dance described routines that didn’t adhere to the strict rules of classical dance. Contemporary dancers of this era began to create new dynamics, exploring unconventional movements and pushing the limits of the human form. Their moves combined dance styles from around the world. Some even traced back to ancient techniques found in the practices of Eastern philosophies, such as Indian Hatha Yoga, pilates, and Zen Buddhism. Techniques often included systematic breathing, expression of emotion, rapid oppositional moves, and contrasting rhythms and postures. Many movements were also performed in prone and other non-standing positions

Contemporary dance techniques typically reflect the body’s natural alignment, so the style is accessible for dancers of any level, and beginners may learn by taking group contemporary dance classes or private lessons. Classes often focus on topics such as narration, self-expression, creative freedom, and the conveyance of emotion. Students may experience a variety of benefits from lessons, including increased body awareness and reduced stress, as well as improved balance, flexibility, and core strength.

When starting contemporary dance lessons, seek reputable dance schools that teach students with similar goals. Ideally, your instructor should understand the basic techniques of the genre and be able to work comfortably with beginners, as proper training and constructive feedback can improve the learning experience. You may also find it helpful to study other types of dance, such as ballet or tap. Beginning contemporary dancers should be ready to embrace innovation, which is a hallmark of the genre.

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