It is a conglomeration of various dance forms, inspired by styles of classical ballet and jazz performances,
woven with a modern twist.
It is a conglomeration of various dance forms, inspired by styles of classical ballet and jazz performances,
woven with a modern twist.
It is a rather artistic and expressive form of practice that utilizes different musical styles, allowing them to be fluid with themselves. Since then, it has spread across the world, gaining enough popularity to be formally taught to aspiring dancers.
It was first originally choreographed by Merce Cunningham in the 1940s with the main idea of giving independence to dance from its predictable and rhythmic techniques. Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham also pioneered this.
Towards the inception of the 20th century, various dancers started breaking free from the mould of ballet. Various individuals like Fuller, Francois Delsarte and Duncan began to develop their unique styles with emotions and expressions.
Martha Graham was the first to break the classical dance forms' technical regulations, giving birth to modern dance.
His ideology revolved around the futility of muscle and movement, father developed by one of his own students Merce Cunningham, who upon being inspired by the music of John Cage, liberating modern dance from the rules of stage and music and formulated the contemporary dance that we know today. Another student of Graham, Alvin Ailey, introduced techniques of African American origin.
Cunningham's true intent develop a form of dance that would not be dependent on any form of restrictions. The dance form appeared disordered, which was technically planned to appear so. All choreographers allowed the creative freedom that independent of music and instruments. The perspective of having symmetry and coordination was removed. It aimed to be enjoyed instead of being analysed.
Steadily, this dance form started gaining a place in visual arts theatre and various films. Contemporary dance preaches mental strength and postural development values. It urges democracy and open-mindedness between choreographers and dancers, merging them despite one another in their natural forms. This genre has grown to become the most popular and practiced dance form today.
All forms of dances have branched out from one another by changing a few aspects that used to bind them to rules and regulations and took away their artistic freedom. It is a form that can truly be considered to have a method to the madness.
This art form has been able to break all rules and regulations of strict genres like ballet. It involves the activity of the entire torso rather than just footwork, focusing mostly on floor work. It encourages dancers and choreographers to be free in their movement, feelings, emotions and comfort.
The contemporary dance form that we find today has developed by mixing various choreographers' styles and drawing inspiration from the modern classical dance forms. Many performances are restricted to narrations, involve music and stories, whereas many performances are completely improvised in their own styles or theatre forms.
These dance forms have been revisited and edited by multiple choreographers. They have summarised them into a new dance form that is now being taught to students worldwide.