Contemporary dance[1] is a genre of dance performance that developed during the mid-twentieth century and has since grown to become one of the dominant genres for formally trained dancers throughout the world, with particularly strong popularity in the U.S. and Europe. Although originally informed by and borrowing from classical, modern, and jazz styles, it has come to incorporate elements from many styles of dance.[2] Due to its technical similarities, it is often perceived to be closely related to modern dance, ballet, and other classical concert dance styles.
A dancer performing a contemporary dance piece
Indian Contemporary Dancer at 2018 Folklorama Festival, Winnipeg
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. It also employs contract-release, floor work, fall and recovery, and improvisation characteristics of modern dance.[3] Unpredictable changes in rhythm, speed, and direction are often used, as well. Additionally, contemporary dance sometimes incorporates elements of non-western dance cultures, such as elements from African dance including bent knees, or movements from the Japanese contemporary dance, Butoh.[4][5]
Contemporary dance draws on both classical ballet and modern dance, whereas postmodern dance was a direct and opposite response to modern dance. Merce Cunningham is considered to be the first choreographer to "develop an independent attitude towards modern dance" and defy the ideas that were established by it.[5][6] In 1944 Cunningham accompanied his dance with music by John Cage, who observed that Cunningham's dance "no longer relies on linear elements (...) nor does it rely on a movement towards and away from climax. As in abstract painting, it is assumed that an element (a movement, a sound, a change of light) is in and of itself expressive; what it communicates is in large part determined by the observer themselves." Cunningham formed the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in 1953 and went on to create more than one hundred and fifty works for the company, many of which have been performed internationally by ballet and modern dance companies.
Cunningham's key ideas
Cunningham's key ideas include-
Contemporary dance does refuse the classical ballet's leg technique in favour of modern dance's stress on the torso
Contemporary dance is not necessarily narrative form of art
Choreography that appears disordered, but nevertheless relies on technique
Unpredictable changes in rhythm, speed, and direction
Multiple and simultaneous actions
Suspension of perspective and symmetry in ballet scenic frame perspective such as front, center, and hierarchies
There is usually a choreographer who makes the creative decisions and decides whether the piece is an abstract or a narrative one. Dancers are selected based on their skill and training. The choreography is determined based on its relation to the music or sounds that is danced to. The role of music in contemporary dance is different from in other genres because it can serve as a backdrop to the piece. The choreographer has control over the costumes and their aesthetic value for the overall composition of the performance and also in regards to how they influence dancers’ movements.[7]
Some well-known choreographers and creators of contemporary dance created schools and techniques of their own. Paul Taylor developed a dance technique called Taylor technique, which is now taught at modern dance schools like The Ailey School in New York City.
Dance and technology
Reflecting the situation in society at large, contemporary dance is increasingly incorporating overtly technological elements, and, in particular, robots.[9] Robotics engineer/dancer Amy LaViers, for example, has incorporated cell phones in a contemporary dance piece calling attention to the issues surrounding our ever-increasing dependence on technology.[10]
^Le Moal, Philippe (1999). Dictionnaire de la Danse. Bologne: Larousse-Bordas/HER. pp. 705–706. ISBN2-03511-318-0.
^"Concordia University Contemporary Dance Program".
^Scheff, Helene; Marty Sprague; Susan McGreevy-Nichols (2010). Exploring dance forms and styles: a guide to concert, world, social, and historical dance. Human Kinetics. p. 87. ISBN978-0-7360-8023-1.
^"Origins of Contemporary Dance". Retrieved 28 February 2012.
^ abc"Contemporary Dance History". Retrieved 28 February 2012.
^"Modern Dance Pioneers". Retrieved 28 February 2012.
^The Juilliard School - Dance Division - Curriculum Outline
^Herath, Damith; Christian Kroos; Stelarc (2016). Robots and Art: Exploring an Unlikely Symbiosis. Springer. ISBN978-981-10-0319-6.
^LaViers, Amy (23 May 2019). "Ideal Mechanization: Exploring the Machine Metaphor through Theory and Performance". Arts. 8 (2): 67. doi:10.3390/arts8020067.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Contemporary dance.
Contemporary-dance.org website
May 04, 2023
contemporary, dance, genre, dance, performance, that, developed, during, twentieth, century, since, grown, become, dominant, genres, formally, trained, dancers, throughout, world, with, particularly, strong, popularity, europe, although, originally, informed, . Contemporary dance 1 is a genre of dance performance that developed during the mid twentieth century and has since grown to become one of the dominant genres for formally trained dancers throughout the world with particularly strong popularity in the U S and Europe Although originally informed by and borrowing from classical modern and jazz styles it has come to incorporate elements from many styles of dance 2 Due to its technical similarities it is often perceived to be closely related to modern dance ballet and other classical concert dance styles A dancer performing a contemporary dance piece Indian Contemporary Dancer at 2018 Folklorama Festival Winnipeg 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 It also employs contract release floor work fall and recovery and improvisation characteristics of modern dance 3 Unpredictable changes in rhythm speed and direction are often used as well Additionally contemporary dance sometimes incorporates elements of non western dance cultures such as elements from African dance including bent knees or movements from the Japanese contemporary dance Butoh 4 5 Contents 1 History 2 Cunningham s key ideas 3 Choreographer s role 4 Dance technique 5 Dance and technology 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditMain article Modern dance Contemporary dance performed by Le Sacre Contemporary dance draws on both classical ballet and modern dance whereas postmodern dance was a direct and opposite response to modern dance Merce Cunningham is considered to be the first choreographer to develop an independent attitude towards modern dance and defy the ideas that were established by it 5 6 In 1944 Cunningham accompanied his dance with music by John Cage who observed that Cunningham s dance no longer relies on linear elements nor does it rely on a movement towards and away from climax As in abstract painting it is assumed that an element a movement a sound a change of light is in and of itself expressive what it communicates is in large part determined by the observer themselves Cunningham formed the Merce Cunningham Dance Company in 1953 and went on to create more than one hundred and fifty works for the company many of which have been performed internationally by ballet and modern dance companies Cunningham s key ideas EditCunningham s key ideas include Contemporary dance does refuse the classical ballet s leg technique in favour of modern dance s stress on the torso Contemporary dance is not necessarily narrative form of art Choreography that appears disordered but nevertheless relies on technique Unpredictable changes in rhythm speed and direction Multiple and simultaneous actions Suspension of perspective and symmetry in ballet scenic frame perspective such as front center and hierarchies Creative freedom Independence between dance and music Dance to be danced not analyzed Innovative lighting sets and costumes in collaboration with Andy Warhol Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns 5 Other pioneers of contemporary dance the offspring of modern and postmodern include Ruth St Denis Doris Humphrey Mary Wigman Pina Bausch Francois Delsarte Emile Jaques Dalcroze Paul Taylor Rudolph von Laban Loie Fuller Jose Limon and Marie Rambert Choreographer s role EditThere is usually a choreographer who makes the creative decisions and decides whether the piece is an abstract or a narrative one Dancers are selected based on their skill and training The choreography is determined based on its relation to the music or sounds that is danced to The role of music in contemporary dance is different from in other genres because it can serve as a backdrop to the piece The choreographer has control over the costumes and their aesthetic value for the overall composition of the performance and also in regards to how they influence dancers movements 7 Dance technique Edit Le Sacre du Tempo Dance techniques and movement philosophies employed in contemporary dance may include Contemporary ballet Dance improvisation Interpretive dance Lyrical dance Modern dance styles from United States such as Graham technique Humphrey Weidman technique and Horton technique Modern dance of Europe Bartenieff Fundamentals and the dance technique of Isadora Duncan also see Free dance Contemporary dancers train using contemporary dance techniques as well as non dance related practices such as Pilates Yoga the acting practice of Corporeal mime Etienne Decroux technique and somatic practices such as Alexander technique 8 Feldenkrais Method Sullivan Technique and Franklin Methode American contemporary techniques such as Jose Limon technique and Hawkins technique and Postmodern dance techniques such as Contact improvisation and Cunningham technique and Release technique Some well known choreographers and creators of contemporary dance created schools and techniques of their own Paul Taylor developed a dance technique called Taylor technique which is now taught at modern dance schools like The Ailey School in New York City Dance and technology EditReflecting the situation in society at large contemporary dance is increasingly incorporating overtly technological elements and in particular robots 9 Robotics engineer dancer Amy LaViers for example has incorporated cell phones in a contemporary dance piece calling attention to the issues surrounding our ever increasing dependence on technology 10 See also EditModern dance Contemporary ballet London Contemporary Dance School Category Contemporary dancersReferences Edit Le Moal Philippe 1999 Dictionnaire de la Danse Bologne Larousse Bordas HER pp 705 706 ISBN 2 03511 318 0 Concordia University Contemporary Dance Program Scheff Helene Marty Sprague Susan McGreevy Nichols 2010 Exploring dance forms and styles a guide to concert world social and historical dance Human Kinetics p 87 ISBN 978 0 7360 8023 1 Origins of Contemporary Dance Retrieved 28 February 2012 a b c Contemporary Dance History Retrieved 28 February 2012 Modern Dance Pioneers Retrieved 28 February 2012 Choreo Retrieved 28 February 2012 The Juilliard School Dance Division Curriculum Outline Herath Damith Christian Kroos Stelarc 2016 Robots and Art Exploring an Unlikely Symbiosis Springer ISBN 978 981 10 0319 6 LaViers Amy 23 May 2019 Ideal Mechanization Exploring the Machine Metaphor through Theory and Performance Arts 8 2 67 doi 10 3390 arts8020067 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Contemporary dance Contemporary dance org website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Contemporary dance amp oldid 1145754026, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
