about this category

Modern dance techniques of the 20th century and currently are referred to as contemporary dancing or lyrical dance. This includes the dances of the 1920’s, “the roaring twenties” through the current hip hop craze. Postmodern and contemporary dance are from Modern dance and are the major part of the 20th century concert dance. Contemporary dancing is influenced by modern and postmodern dance. Many contemporary dances are performed barefoot. Improvisation means the dancer interprets the music in movement. European contemporary dance differs from US contemporary dance. Contemporary dance is based on philosophies of movement. There is the Laban Movement Analysis, the Feldenkrais Method, and the Cunningham Technique.

Contemporary dance is not a specific dance technique. Most contemporary dance is a mix of dance methods such as contact improvisation, fusion, emergent dance and revisionism. Improvisation, are forms of that use creative movements and sometimes includes physical contact.

These dance styles incorporate centering, balance, and alignment principles. Many contemporary dances are for performance with emotive displays of dramatic movements.

Contemporary dance is a category of dance forms that include:

Free dance
Modern dance
Expressionist dance
Postmodern dance
Dance improvisation
Contemporary dance
Dance theatre
Dance technology
Modern ballet
Neoclassical ballet
Deconstructivist ballet

Contemporary dance has reflected the times as the 1960’s and 1970’s saw revolutionary new dances. Dance styles are sometimes purposely created through innovative choreography such as with Michael Jackson’s moonwalk or they just happen on the dance floor and catch on.