Contemporary Dance Style

Contemporary dance came about in the 1950’s and is still a dance style used today in dance competitions, drill teams and studio teams1.

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Contemporary dance was created by the unique dance masters that tried to develop new forms and dynamics of dance. These dance masters are Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham. These famous dancers refused to follow the strict rules and movements of the dance styles ballet and lyrical. They all wanted to show the world that contemporary dancers should embrace freedom, ignore old dance conventions and explore the limits of the human body and visual expression of feelings2.

They did not use the normal movements and instead, created movements using quick oppositional moves, shifting alignments and expressions of true emotions. They also danced moves performed in non-standing positions, for example lying on the floor and rolling, and in general trying to find the absolute limits of the human body2. They collected dance moves from different styles and explored the area of “revolutionary unconventional movements”2.

Just like contemporary dance movement, contemporary dance music is not an established type3. Contemporary music can come in all varieties, although you may hear a trend to the song choices throughout a dance competition or show.

When choosing music you need to identify the type of dance you will perform. Contemporary dance does not always have to be stimulated by sound or rhythm. You can dance to silence within your music and it is just as beautiful3.

Clothing with contemporary dance is normally a type of spandex shorts, in nudes, browns or grey colors, paired with a flowing shirt that will move to the music just as you would. Foot paws are worn on the feet, these are nude in color to match the skin to give the appearance of a bare foot. The purpose of these foot paws are strictly for turning and friction when leaping off the ground.

Contemporary dance is certainly a dance that you can make your own and identify it however you want. You can dance to words, silence or even instrumental music. All three of these could be combined for a different type of music.

1 Dance History. (n.d.). Retrieved October 06, 2016, from http://www.contemporary-dance.org/dance-history.html

2 Contemporary Dance - Ballet and Dance. (n.d.). Retrieved October 06, 2016, from http://www.dancefacts.net/dance-types/contemporary-dance/

3Contemporary Dance Music. (n.d.). Retrieved October 06, 2016, from http://www.contemporary-dance.org/contemporary-dance-music.html