CONTEMPORARY

Contemporary dance is an expressive style of dance that abandons the rigid, centered aspect of classical forms of dance, and utilizes unconventional movements from styles around the world. It incorporates certain elements of ballet, modern dance, and jazz.

Contemporary dance emerged in the 1950’s as dancers reacted against the rigid constraints of ballet technique. Seeking to move with ease and fluidity, dancers began to experiment with manipulating their cores — a thought unheard of in classical ballet schools, which taught students to maintain a rigid, upright core throughout dancing.

Because of its versatility, contemporary dance is used in a variety of performance mediums throughout the world. It has evolved both commercially and professionally.