Comprehensive Guide to Contemporary Dance

Comprehensive Guide to Contemporary Dance

Modern dance has come a long way from the abstract expressionist and lyrical styles of the mid-20th century. Since then, we have seen an explosion in the popularity of dance. This is partly because of the widespread acceptance of movement as a means of expression, but it is also because of diverse dance forms in many performance venues. 

Contemporary dance has come a long way in that its range of subject and dance techniques is far broader than what was present in the past. Perhaps, since its beginning, contemporary dance has always been an experimental art form with little or no structure or narrative. 

Many modern dance works have an open ending; they often include no plot or resolution, yet leave us with a feeling that we have seen something new. While many audiences will see contemporary as a style for social change, others are drawn to its beauty and energy. Learn more about dance classes for kids.

Modern Dance

Dance is an art form, a method of physical expression and a creative form of human expression, which should express emotional experiences. Dance took on many artistic forms and techniques, and it has developed into a highly diverse practice. 

Dance as an art form was influenced by the development of new ideas, methods, and technologies. Modern dance is a major part of contemporary dance which combines the choreography with various other elements like visual arts, music and theater. Modern dance includes ballet and its variations, including ballet, jazz dance and modern jazz dance. Learn more about ballet classes for kids.

One of the most significant elements of dance is its potential for communication. This is made possible by the communication between dancer and dancer, between the dancers and the music, between the dancers and their environment. 

In the modern dance community, there is a certain level of agreement about what these relationships are and how they should be constructed. This can be accomplished through such means as choreography, collaboration with other artists, rehearsal technique, etc.

What is Contemporary Dance?

What is Contemporary Dance

A dance is a moving image or a performance. In modern dances, the two are combined to produce an action or an event. Modern dance is a type of art in which dancers express emotions through freedom of movement.

Dance was the earliest form of drama and remained popular throughout history. Dance was developed as part of religious ceremonies and celebrations, but today it is considered a form of entertainment. 

Contemporary dance is an exciting and dynamic form of dance. It has evolved over the last four decades and continues to grow and change. Dance is an essential part of contemporary life, as evidenced by its continued growth in popularity in recent years. This guide will give you a better understanding of the dance form and introduce you to many forms that have emerged in recent years.

Most modern dances were developed from the late eighteenth century through the early twentieth century. They followed or influenced European traditions of ballet and classical ballet, which developed in Europe from ancient Greek and Roman cultures. Dances of this type originated as dramatic tableaux or performed for special occasions, such as balls or other celebrations. They were also used to celebrate social gatherings or entertain audiences.

Movements involving Contemporary Dance

Contemporary dancers, however, learn modern techniques such as cross-overs, back-crosses, hip-motions and turns. These contemporary dance techniques are very different from ballet techniques. To master these techniques requires a good knowledge of anatomy (of the human body) as well as understanding the limitations of the human body essential body parts.

The body of a dancer comprises three main parts: the Head, the Torso and the Legs. 

1. Head

The head is a key component of the dancer’s body. It helps the dancer balance their body and make their movements look graceful. The head should be supported by well-trained muscles in the neck, so that it doesn’t become heavy during dance performances. Dancers should have an upright posture, with straight shoulders and neck muscles that are strong enough to support their heads in an upright position. In addition, the head needs to be supported by powerful muscles in the back of the neck, as well as chest muscles which help keep your head up high when dancing on pointe shoes. 

2. Torso

The torso is composed of many muscle groups which are essential for dance movements such as jumps, turns and spins. These muscle groups comprise both large and small muscles on top of one another – they include muscles in both front and back of the torso. 

When these muscles contract, they pull your entire body forward or backward depending on what you are doing (for example, for jumps or spins). Some other major components of the torso include legs (for kicks and jumps), abdominal muscles (for lifts and dips), shoulders (for turns) and chest muscles (for arms movements). 

3. Legs

Movement of leg muscles in contemporary dance

The legs are composed of many muscle groups. When these muscles contract, they move the body forward or backward. For example, when you want to perform a step or jump, the main leg muscle that needs to contract is the quadriceps (or the thigh muscle). This muscle needs to be strong so that you can lift your leg high in the air while jumping. The major leg muscles also help in lifting your legs up high in a straight position during lifts. 

4. Movement of muscles

Muscles play a very important role in dance movements because they help you make turns and changes of direction, jumps and hops, as well as twirls. There are different dance moves which involve different muscles–for example, a turn involves various parts of your body, including your hips, shoulders, arms and chest. 

These moves require different muscles for different parts of the body. Besides this, there are other kinds of moves which don’t involve any specific part of the body such as pirouettes – this is an elegant spin on pointe.

That is how the muscles of the human body are involved in dance movements. To do these movements well, you need to have an excellent knowledge of anatomy and understand the limitations of the human body. For example, if you want to turn around while dancing on pointe shoes, your hips need to be strong enough to support your body’s weight while spinning around in circles.

Start learning dance in Singapore with Jody Marshall Dance Company

At Jody Marshall Dance Company, we firmly believe in creating a nurturing and supportive environment for each and every student. When it comes to dance and ballet in Singapore, having a conducive environment is a crucial building block of your child’s development. As a professional dance school in Singapore, our dance teachers at Jody Marshall Dance Company are committed to offering high standards of ballet dance and other forms of dance training to budding young dancers in Singapore.

Enrolling your child into a dance class at Jody Marshall Dance Company not only allows them to learn from our highly experienced teachers, but also allows them to gain more exposure in their chosen dance style. Your kids will be under the guidance of teachers who are international choreographers in the dance scene. Your child will get the chance to travel internationally for competitions or performance opportunities as well.

Jody Marshall Dance Company offers the opportunity to let your child build up their portfolio with accredited examinations through our DSA programme. Here at Jody Marshall Dance Company, our teachers will guide you through every step of the way through the DSA process. Over the years, we have built up a great record of students who have successfully enrolled into the secondary school of their choice through the DSA programme.

Contact us today to enroll your child into a dance class of choice with us!