Contemporary dance blends elements of ballet, modern, jazz, and lyrical dance styles to create expressive, emotion-driven movement. So You Think You Can Dance brought it to mainstream American audiences in the 2000s, transforming it from niche art form to widely practiced style.

Historical Context

Roots:

• Modern dance pioneers: Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor (mid-20th century)
• Postmodern dance: Trisha Brown, Twyla Tharp (1960s-70s)
• Contemporary evolution: 1980s-90s, blending ballet technique with modern philosophy

Philosophy: Rejecting ballet’s rigid structure while maintaining technical foundation; prioritizing emotional expression and storytelling.

Characteristics

Technical elements:

• Floor work: Rolling, sliding, contact with ground
• Release technique: Using momentum and gravity rather than forcing movement
• Improvisation: Often incorporated
• Fluidity: Smooth transitions between shapes
• Breath-driven: Movement connected to breathing

Aesthetic:

• Bare feet (vs. ballet’s pointe shoes)
• Emotional vulnerability
• Narrative or abstract concepts
• Use of contemporary music (pop, indie, electronic)

Mainstream Breakthrough

So You Think You Can Dance (2005-present):
The show introduced contemporary to Middle America, making it the most popular style on the series.

Influential SYTYCD choreographers:

• Mia Michaels: Dark, emotional, theatrical
• Travis Wall: Storytelling, emotional narratives (former contestant turned Emmy winner)
• Sonya Tayeh: Edgy, aggressive contemporary
• Stacey Tookey: Powerful emotional pieces

Iconic SYTYCD contemporary routines:

• “Hometown Glory” (Kathryn & Robert, 2008)
• “Gravity” (Kayla & Kupono, 2009)
• “Collide” (Alex & tWitch, 2008)

These routines garnered millions of YouTube views and inspired people to take contemporary classes.

Dance Studios & Education

Pre-SYTYCD (1990s-2005):
Contemporary taught primarily in professional companies, universities, and elite conservatories

Post-SYTYCD (2006-present):

• Suburban dance studios added contemporary classes
• Became staple of competition dance circuit
• High school dance teams incorporated contemporary
• Accessible to recreational dancers, not just professionals

This democratization transformed contemporary from elite art form to widely practiced style.

Competition Dance Circuit

2010s: Contemporary dominated competitive dance:

• Dance Moms (2011-2019) frequently featured contemporary solos
• Competition winners often performed contemporary
• Judges rewarded emotional expression and technical skill

Criticism: Competition contemporary sometimes prioritized tricks (leaps, turns, extensions) over artistry—diluting the style’s philosophical foundations.

Notable Contemporary Companies

Professional level:

• Batsheva Dance Company (Israel): Ohad Naharin’s Gaga technique
• Nederlands Dans Theater (Netherlands): European contemporary powerhouse
• Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (USA): Modern/contemporary fusion
• Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
• Complexions Contemporary Ballet

These companies continue pushing technical and conceptual boundaries.

Influential Choreographers

21st century:

• Crystal Pite (Canada): Kinetic and theatrical
• Wayne McGregor (UK): Collaboration with Royal Ballet, innovative
• Hofesh Shechter (Israel/UK): Political, visceral
• Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui (Belgium): Multicultural fusion

Music Relationship

Unlike ballet (classical music) or hip-hop (rap/R&B), contemporary uses diverse music:

• Indie pop (Florence + The Machine, Bon Iver)
• Electronic (Ólafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm)
• Singer-songwriter (Adele, Birdy)
• Film scores (Hans Zimmer, Clint Mansell)

This musical eclecticism attracts dancers who want emotional connection to songs.

Cultural Impact

Mainstream presence:

• Music videos (Sia’s “Chandelier” with Maddie Ziegler, 2014)
• Awards shows (Olympics opening ceremonies, Grammys)
• Films (“Black Swan,” “Step Up” franchise)

Accessibility: Contemporary’s emphasis on emotion over rigid technique makes it welcoming to late-start dancers—you don’t need childhood training like ballet demands.

Criticism & Debates

“Competition contemporary” vs. “concert contemporary”:
Professional contemporary dancers/choreographers sometimes criticize competition-style contemporary for prioritizing tricks over artistry.

Cultural appropriation: As contemporary absorbed hip-hop and other styles, questions arose about proper crediting and respect for source cultures.

Legacy

Contemporary dance achieved rare feat: maintaining artistic integrity while achieving mainstream popularity. It remains:

• Most popular style on SYTYCD
• Competition dance staple
• Growing professional company scene
• University dance program core

Bridging elite art world and accessible recreational dance, contemporary proved modern dance could evolve and thrive in 21st century.

Sources:
Dance Magazine - Contemporary Dance Evolution
The Guardian - Contemporary Dance Review
So You Think You Can Dance Archives