Contemporary Dance
The name contemporary dance describes a range of techniques and styles used in classes, workshops and dance choreography.
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Contemporary Dance was developed in the early 20th Century as a reaction against the rigid techniques of ballet. It flourished particularly in areas that lacked strong ballet traditions, such as in the United States where ballet companies were imported from Europe. |
Although modern dance originated in Europe, by 1930 the United States had become the centre for dance experimentation.
Pioneers such as Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham searched for ease of movement using the bodies natural lines and energy allowing a greater range of fluidity of movement than conventional dance techniques.
Contemporary dance is characterised by its versatility: contemporary can be danced to almost any style of music, or united with other dance forms to create new styles of movement. Contemporary dance seeks to work with the natural alignment of the body and is therefore a safe and accessible dance, which also allows dancers to push new boundaries of body movement.
Contemporary dance draws on modern dance techniques (developed in the first 60 years of the 20th century) and an array of still developing philosophies of movement based on study of the human body and body/mind relationships.
Technique in Contemporary Dance is seen more as a tool for the dancer and a means by which to strengthen the body, increase flexibility, and through a deliberate exposure of the contemporary dancer to a wide range of techniques, to ensure versatility. Contemporary dance as a field is more concerned with examining the choreographic and performing process.
The most commonly used techniques are:
Cunningham (named after choreographer Merce Cunningham) focuses on the architecture of the body in space, rhythm and articulation. Cunningham uses the idea of the body’s own ‘line of energy’ to promote easy, natural movement.
Graham (named after Martha Graham) focuses on the use of contraction, release, fall and recovery. Grahams technique is characterised by floorwork and the use of abdominal and pelvic contractions.
Limon (named after Jose Limon) explores use of energy in relation to gravity an working with weight in terms of fall, rebound, recovery and suspension. Limon technique uses the feeling of weight and ‘heavy energy’ in the body.
Release puts emphasis on minimising tension in the search for clarity and fluidity and efficient use of energy and breath. In Release technique, the dancers release through the joints and muscles to create ease of movement.
Interested in Contemporary workshop then try
Moving From Centre
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An exploration of principles of movement that enhance the initiation of the bodies physical centre of motion.
Moving from the centre & radiating out into full-bodied dancing, exploring RELEASE, FLUIDITY, POWER & PLEASURE in the moving dancing body.
Roll, reach, push & slide into easeful, pleasurable dancing. |
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