CONTEMPORARY DANCE

PREPARED BY: GROUP 5

History of Contemporary Dance

Around 1980s, the world "contemporary dance" referred to the movement of new
dancers who did not want to follow strict classical ballet and lyrical dance forms, but instead
wanted to explore the area of revolutionary unconventional movements that were gathered
from all dance styles of the world. Contemporary dances therefore do not use fixed moves and
instead try to develop totally new forms and dynamics, such as quick oppositional moves,
shifting alignments, expressions of raw emotions, systematic breathing, dancing moves
preformed in non-standing positions (for example lying on the floor), and in general trying to
find the absolute limits of our human form and physique.
The origins of this popular dance movement can be traced to several influential dance
masters such as Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham. This influential
dancer wanted to show to the world that contemporary dancers should embrace freedom,
ignore old dance conventions and explore the limits of the human body and visual expression of
feelings. Dancer who introduced and greatly popularized the contemporary dance to the
worldwide audience was Martha Graham (1894 - 1991).
By the mid-20th century, it was time to innovate again, and this is where Contemporary
Dance comes in. Inspired by the Modern Dance movement. We have the revolutionary
choreographer, Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) to thank for Modern Dance. She was the first
dancer/choreographer to experiment with the free-form style of modern dance, opting for bare
feet, short Grecian-inspired tunics, and bold new movements that shocked and amazed turn-of-
the-century audiences. Her innovations in the world of dance were the foundational pillars of
Contemporary Dance. Contemporary Dance took the free-flow style and folded back in a little
bit of Ballet technique, a little bit of Jazz and Lyrical dance, and a whole lot of free spirit. It did
away with the classical music of both Ballet and Modern Dance and invited in new kinds of
acoustic worlds. Unlike Modern Dance, Contemporary Dance isn’t held to a stylistic standard,
rather, it’s defined by a general lack of stylistic standards, always changing and evolving.

Foundational Figures of Contemporary Dance.

Martha Graham (1894 – 1991)

Martha Graham is widely regarded as the ‘’Mother of Contemporary Dance’’. She developed
the ‘’Graham Technique’’ which is widely considered to be the cornerstone of American
Modern Dance. The technique focuses on contraction and release, and working with the breath
to inspire movement. She then went on to open the Martha Graham School of Contemporary
Dance in 1926, where many of the leading Contemporary choreographers studied.

Merce Cunningham (1919 – 2009)

Many credit Merce Cunningham with formally conceptualizing Contemporary Dance, earning
him the reputation as the ‘’Father of Contemporary Dance’’. He was a student of famed
Modern Dancer Martha Graham. He expanded on her methodology and refined the idea of
Contemporary Dance as something separate from both Ballet and Modern Dance. He is
credited with introducing the concept that Contemporary Dance should always be evolving and
changing. He went on to found his own dance company where he taught ‘’The Cunningham
Technique’’, a contemporary dance technique that emphasizes spatial awareness, rhythmic
accuracy, and torso/leg work.

What Is Contemporary Dance?

Contemporary dance is a popular
form of dance which developed
during the middle portion of the
twentieth century and has since
grown to become one of the
dominating performance genres for
formally trained dancers
throughout the world, with
particularly strong popularity in the
U.S. and Europe.
It is a style of expressive dance that
combines elements of several
dance genres including modern,
jazz, lyrical and classical ballet.
Contemporary dancers strive to
connect the mind and the body
through fluid dance movements.

Elements of Contemporary Dance

Contemporary dance combines the strong but controlled legwork of ballet, with
elements of Modern Dance, focusing on the contract and release of the body, and the
unpredictable changes in rhythm, speed, and direction. It also employs floor work, fall and
recovery, and improvisation characteristics of Modern Dance.
One of the most important aspects of contemporary dance is the element of
improvisation. While some forms of dance such as ballet can be quite rigid and structured,
contemporary dance relies on fluidity and improvisational movement to evoke a range of
feelings in the viewer.
Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several
dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet.

 Body- it is the instrument of dance and it is what others see when they look at the
dance. It can be used to take internal emotions and different body parts can be used to
create shapes and emphasize movement when moving it can be asymmetrical,
symmetrical, moving, not moving etc.
 Action- is the movement that the dancers perform and it is how a dancers move.
 Space- it is where the dancer moves and the movement action of dance takes place.
 Time- it is when a dancer moves.
 Energy- it is how we move or how the movement happens

Purpose of Dance
Most people are aware of dance as a performing art on stage, screen and media, but
dancing can also be a social activity, a form of physical fitness, or a prime means of expressing
cultural heritage and identity. Dance develops physical, creative, imaginative, emotional and
intellectual capacities. It also requires social skills. Dance provides opportunities for artistic and
aesthetic education as well as opportunities for children to explore and express moods and
ideas symbolically through movement.

 Artistically, dance
 Personally, dance
 Socially, dance
Dance also plays a role in developing a broad range of personal, learning and thinking skills
that help children improve their learning and performance in school and life.
 Communication
 Application of numbers
 Information technology
 Teamwork
 Self-improvement
 Problem solving

Dance Techniques
1) Contemporary ballet
Contemporary ballet incorporates elements from both classical ballet and modern
dance. It takes its technique and use of pointe work from classical ballet, although it permits a
greater range of movement that may not adhere to the strict body lines of classical technique.
Many of its concepts stem from the ideas and innovations of 20th century modern dance

2) Dance improvisation
Dance improvisation (commonly known as improve) is the process of creating
movement without pre-planning any steps or choreography. Free movement is a great way to
have fun, relieve any stress and explore new ways to move and the best part is there are
absolutely no rules!

3) Interpretive dance
Interpretive dance aims to show human emotions, conditions, situations or fantasies by
translating them into movement and dramatic expression. Interpretive dance was a trend that
moved away from more traditional forms of dance such as ballet.

4) Lyrical dance
Lyrical dance is a style that combines ballet and jazz dancing techniques. It is performed
to music with lyrics so that it inspires expression of strong emotions the choreographer feels
from the lyrics of the song. This style concentrates on an individual approach and
expressiveness of such emotions as love, joy, hurt, or anger. It does not concentrate on the
dancer’s precision of movement.

5) Graham technique
Graham technique is based on "contraction and release", and uses different parts of the
body in opposition to one another to create spirals for dramatic tension. It also incorporates
formal exaggerations of "natural" movements.

6) Humphrey Weidman technique

Humphrey-Weidman is a modern dance technique consisting of "fall" and "recovery"
(losing and regaining equilibrium) that was invented by Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman.

7) Horton's dance technique

Horton's dance technique, which is now commonly known as Horton Technique, has no
style, per se. The technique emphasizes a whole body, anatomical approach to dance that
includes flexibility, strength, coordination and body and spatial awareness to enable
unrestricted, dramatic freedom of expression.
Common Injuries
Dance may look effortless, but it requires a lot of strength, flexibility and stamina. It also
comes with a high risk of injuries. Whether you are a dancer, the parent of a dancer or a dance
teacher, you should be aware of the most common dance injuries and learn how to avoid them.
Contemporary dancers can experience a range of injuries due to the physically
demanding nature of the art form.
Here are some common injuries that contemporary dancers may encounter:
1. Sprains and Strains - these can happen to muscles and ligaments when dancers push
their bodies to extreme ranges of motion or overexert themselves
2. Tendonitis - repetitive movements can lead to inflammation of tendons, causing pain and
discomfort
3. Stress Fractures - overuse of bones, especially in the feet and shins, can lead to stress
fractures, which are small cracks in the bone
4. Muscle Tears - intensive stretching and powerful movements can result in muscle tears,
which can be painful and require recovery time
5. Ankle and Foot Injuries - landing improperly or rolling the ankle can lead to sprained
ankles, while foot injuries like plantar fasciitis can also occur
6. Back and Spinal Injuries - the contortions and arching movements in contemporary
dance may strain the back and spine
7. Hip Injuries -hip flexor strains or labral tears can result from the deep and dynamic
movements in contemporary dance
8. Knee Injuries - the knees can be prone to injuries like ligament tears or patellar tendonitis
due to the frequent bending and landing involved
9. Neck and Shoulder Injuries - poor alignment or sudden movements can lead to neck
and shoulder strains or injuries
10. Overuse Injuries - constant repetition of certain movements can lead to overuse injuries
in various parts of the body.

 Contemporary dance is all about voicing your emotions in the form of expression. In terms
of the focus of its technique, contemporary dance tends to combine the strong but controlled
legwork of ballet with modern that stresses on torso.

 If you’re looking for a style that allows you to connect with yourself physically and
artistically, contemporary dance will be a way for it, as you will learn how to communicate
your emotions by moving every inch of your body with expression and intention.
 How to prepare for a Contemporary Dance
1. Wear clothes that won't restrict your movements

2. Prepare your dance place

3. Find good music

4. Attend contemporary dance class

5. Journalize your experience