Contemporary Dance

Introduction & Assessment

Contemporary dance blends ballet, modern, and improvisation into a style that is all about expressing feeling through movement. Start by watching performances on YouTube — search "Alvin Ailey contemporary dance" or "So You Think You Can Dance contemporary" to get a feel for the style. Notice how dancers use their entire body, including their floor, their breath, and even stillness. Then stand in your living room and move freely to one song without any rules. Try to let the music tell you what to do with your arms and body. No technique needed yet — you are just exploring. You are ready for the next step when you can describe three things that make contemporary dance different from other dance styles.

Foundation Building

Two physical skills power most contemporary dance: core strength and floor work. Start building your core by doing 10 slow sit-ups, 20-second planks, and 10 leg lifts each day. Core strength lets you control your movements instead of flopping around. Then practice two floor skills: a smooth roll from sitting to lying on your back, and a controlled way to drop to your knees. Always land softly — wear long leggings to protect your knees on hard floors. Search "contemporary dance floor work beginner" on YouTube for safe technique tips. The SLC Dance Center and U of U dance department sometimes offer open community classes worth checking out. You are ready for the next step when you can hold a plank for 30 seconds and roll down to the floor and back up with control.

Skill Development

Now you build your vocabulary of actual contemporary movement. Learn three foundational elements: contraction and release (curving and opening your spine), a lyrical arm port de bras (flowing arms that lead your body), and a simple triplet step (step-step-step in three counts on the balls of your feet). Search "contemporary dance triplet tutorial" on YouTube — Kathryn Morgan has clear free beginner lessons. Practice each element for five minutes, then link them together into a short 16-count phrase. Work in socks on a smooth floor or bare feet on carpet. You are ready for the next step when you can perform a 16-count phrase that includes all three elements without stopping to think about your feet.

Practice & Refinement

Refining contemporary dance means adding intention — every movement should communicate something. Pick an emotion (joy, longing, surprise) and re-do your 16-count phrase with that feeling driving every choice. Notice how it changes your face, your energy, and the size of your movements. Then extend your phrase to 32 counts by adding a turning section (even simple half-turns count) and a level change (go from standing to low to standing again). Film yourself, watch it back, and ask: does it look like I feel something? Adjust what does not feel authentic. You are ready for the next step when you can perform a 32-count phrase with a clear emotional intention from start to finish.

Challenge Mode

Challenge yourself with improvisation and partnering concepts. Set a 3-minute timer and improvise non-stop to a song you have never moved to before. Try to use all the elements you have learned: floor work, contraction and release, triplets, level changes, and emotional intention. Then find a partner and try simple contact improv basics — leaning weight into each other and moving together without choreography. Search "contact improvisation beginner" on YouTube. If you are in Salt Lake City, check out Repertory Dance Theatre events — they sometimes hold free community improv sessions. You are ready for the next step when you can improvise for three full minutes without stopping or repeating the same movement pattern twice.

Mastery Demonstration

Create and perform a 60-second solo contemporary piece set to music you choose. Your piece must include: an opening shape that holds for 4 counts, floor work, a traveling section, an emotional peak moment, and a final stillness. Perform it for at least one other person. After the performance, share what emotion or idea you wanted to express and ask your audience what they saw. Then post a video of your piece to a social platform or share it with a dance community like the Utah Dance Artists Collective online group. Compare your first free-movement video to this performance. You are ready for the next step when you have performed and shared your 60-second piece and received at least one piece of feedback from a real audience.