Contemporary Dance form in India

Contemporary dance 

Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and the body through fluid dance movements. 

Contemporary dance stresses versatility and improvisation, unlike the strict, structured nature of ballet. Contemporary dancers focus on floorwork, using gravity to pull them down to the floor. This dance genre is often done in bare feet. Contemporary dance can be performed to many different styles of music. Dance can be conceived as a new way of thinking about dance today, a form of expression through movement that processes memory, experience and imagination. The emphasis of contemporary dance is on:

+ Originality

+ Innovation

+ Creativity

+ Interdisciplinarity

Contemporary Dance techniques 

The four main techniques used in contemporary dance are:

Cunningham (named after teacher and choreographer Merce Cunningham, focusing on the architecture of the body in space, rhythm and articulation.)

What does that mean? Cunningham uses the idea of the body's own "line of energy" to promote easy, natural movement. Richard Alston uses Cunningham technique in his graceful choreography.

Graham (named after Martha Graham) - focusing on the use of contraction, release, fall and recovery.

What does that mean? Graham technique is characterised by floorwork and the use of abdominal and pelvic contractions. The style is very grounded and the technique visibly contrary to the sylphlike, airborne ideals of ballet.

Limon (named after Jose Limon) - exploring use of energy in relation to gravity and working with weight in terms of fall, rebound, recovery and suspension.

What does that mean? Limon technique uses the feeling of weight and "heavy energy" in the body, and movement is instigated using breath to lift, and swings through the body to create and halt movement. It also feels very nice to perform!

Release - placing emphasis on minimising tension in the search for clarity and fluidity and efficient use of energy and breath.

Contemporary dance 

Contemporary dance is a style of expressive dance that combines elements of several dance genres including modern, jazz, lyrical and classical ballet. Contemporary dancers strive to connect the mind and the body through fluid dance movements. 

Contemporary dance stresses versatility and improvisation, unlike the strict, structured nature of ballet. Contemporary dancers focus on floorwork, using gravity to pull them down to the floor. This dance genre is often done in bare feet. Contemporary dance can be performed to many different styles of music. Dance can be conceived as a new way of thinking about dance today, a form of expression through movement that processes memory, experience and imagination. The emphasis of contemporary dance is on:

Originality

Innovation

Creativity

Interdisciplinarity

Contemporary Dance techniques 

The four main techniques used in contemporary dance are:

Cunningham (named after teacher and choreographer Merce Cunningham, focusing 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. Richard Alston uses Cunningham technique in his graceful choreography.

Graham (named after Martha Graham) - focusing on the use of contraction, release, fall and recovery.

Graham technique is characterised by floorwork and the use of abdominal and pelvic contractions. The style is very grounded and the technique visibly contrary to the sylphlike, airborne ideals of ballet.

Limon (named after Jose Limon) - exploring use of energy in relation to gravity and working with weight in terms of fall, rebound, recovery and suspension.

Limon technique uses the feeling of weight and "heavy energy" in the body, and movement is instigated using breath to lift, and swings through the body to create and halt movement. It also feels very nice to perform!

Release - placing emphasis on minimising tension in the search for clarity and fluidity and efficient use of energy and breath.