Research: Contemporary dance

As soon as I had the song for the project I knew that I wanted contemporary choreography. So might as well research it!

Contemporary dance is a dance performance genre that developed during the mid twentieth century and has since grown to become one of the dominant genres for formally trained dancers throughout the world, with particularly strong popularity in the U.S. and Europe. Although originally informed by and borrowing from classical, modern, and jazz styles, it has since come to incorporate elements from many styles of dance.Due to its technical similarities, it is often perceived to be closely related to modern dance, ballet and other classical concert dance styles.

In terms of the focus of its technique, contemporary dance tends to combine the strong and controlled legwork of ballet with modern dance's stress on the torso, and also employs contract-release, floor work, fall and recovery, and improvisation characteristic of modern dance.Unpredictable changes in rhythm, speed, and direction are often used, as well. It sometimes also incorporates elements of non-western dance cultures such as elements from African dance including bent knees, or movements from the Japanese contemporary dance Butoh.

• Contemporary dance does refuse the classical ballet's leg technique in favor of modern dance's stress on the torso
• Contemporary dance is not necessarily narrative form of art
• Choreography that appears disordered, but nevertheless relies on technique
• Unpredictable changes in rhythm, speed, and direction
• Multiple and simultaneous actions
• Suspension of perspective and symmetry in ballet scenic frame perspective such as front, center, and hierarchies
• Creative freedom
• "Independence between dance and music"
• Dance to be danced, not analyzed

There is usually a choreographer who makes the creative decisions. He/she chooses whether the piece is an abstract or a narrative one. Dancers are selected based on their skill and training. The choreography is determined based on its relation to the music or sounds that is danced to. The role of music in contemporary dance is different from in other genres because it can serve as a backdrop to the piece. The choreographer has control over the costumes and their aesthetic value for the overall composition of the performance and also in regards to how they influence dancers’ movements.