Modern vs Contemporary: Decoding the Language of Dance

Modern vs Contemporary​; TL;DR: While often used interchangeably, modern and contemporary dance are distinct styles. Modern dance, originating in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was a rebellion against the strictness of classical ballet, focusing on individual expression and emotion. Contemporary dance, which emerged in the mid-20th century, builds on modern dance but incorporates elements from various genres like jazz, ballet, and even hip-hop.
Modern dance is characterized by more structured, codified techniques, while contemporary dance is more fluid, versatile, and often involves improvisation. In essence, modern dance is about expressing raw emotion and breaking from tradition, whereas contemporary dance is a more blended and ever-evolving form focused on performance and athleticism. Both, however, serve as powerful forms of storytelling and emotional expression through movement.

Modern vs Contemporary: Decoding the Language of Dance

To most members of the general public, modern dance and contemporary dance are one and the same. The reality, however, is that these two dance styles are actually very different. Not only are they characterized by different moves and different histories, they also have a distinctly different energy to them.

Dancing is so much more than a fun activity, it’s an artform and a way of expressing yourself physically and mentally, with the added bonus of being a wonderful form of exercise in the process. What’s even more exciting is the fact that there are so many different varieties to choose from.

Without question, both contemporary and modern dance have proved to be two of the most popular over the centuries, which is what we’ll be focusing on today. Here’s a look at the language of dance as we dissect the key differences and similarities between contemporary and modern dance.

What is Contemporary Dance?

Contemporary dance is a form of dance that is relatively new and has origins that can be traced back to the 20^th century.

The dance style itself, like art, is open to interpretation with many considering it to be a combination of non-classical ballet, more modern dance, and even jazz. It has a variety of different styles and can be performed in different ways. In a way, it’s the ultimate form of rebellion and control as dancers perform it the way they wish to perform, rather than relying on strict choreography.

If you’ve ever seen contemporary dancers in action, you’ll notice the modern elements of the dance, as it is energetic and requires a great deal of precision footwork and improvisation. You’ll also see the influence of the other genres we mentioned earlier. Each movement is energetic, fluid, and performed with purpose. There’s nothing forced about contemporary dance, despite the improvisation that goes with it.

People like to refer to dance as an artform, and if you take one look at contemporary dancers in action, you’ll immediately understand why that is. Contemporary performers will wear elaborate costumes and use props, based upon the message they’re trying to convey through their dance. Each dance is an exhibition and a way of telling a story and portraying a cascade of emotions through their performance.

While most contemporary dances are carried out to various genres of music, depending upon the overall message, contemporary dancers may also perform in silence, to poems, to short stories, or even to songs.

What is Modern Dance?

If contemporary dance is all about performance, modern dance is very much about expressionism and letting free. It is made up of a variety of different styles, with a hint of classical ballet, without its restrictions. Many credit performers from the late 1800s to early 1900s, for helping to popularize the dance. In particular, Loie Fuller and Isadora Duncan are credited with helping to shape the dance into something new and, at the time, something more modern.

Modern dance is performed methodically and with purpose. It’s all about smooth, fluid, linear, and at times, rapid movements. The tricky part is combining these movements together effortlessly and, when necessary, improvising and quickly recovering if you do happen to misstep.

Modern dance allows performers to express themselves, rather than being confined and bound by the restrictions of classical ballet, and similar disciplines. In fact, modern dance as we know it today, came about as many classical performers grew frustrated with the strict and stringent rules and restrictions associated with classical ballet and similar performances. The dancers wanted to really let go, lose their inhibitions, and express themselves through the medium of dance.

Early performances of modern dance were inspired by less-conventional forms of dance such as folk and African dance. As is often the case, as the decades progressed, the dance genre began to take on a life of its own and evolve into something completely new and unique. Modern dance is all about being free, being true to yourself, and not being restricted or held back. This is very much reflected in the attire as most dancers will perform their routines barefoot and wear unique costumes and attire that they feel comfortable and confident in.

Modern Dance Vs Contemporary Dance

As we can see from the above, contemporary and modern dance do share a great deal of similarities with one another. Scratch lightly beneath the surface, though, and it’s easy to spot the key differences.

Contemporary dance is much more formal and is more about the performance itself, putting on a spectacle, and being slow, controlled, and methodical as you do. It’s about showcasing your natural talents and professionalism while staying calm under the pressure of performing. This is in stark contrast to modern dance.

Modern dance is more about rebelling against the so-called “norms” of society, being who you want to be, and expressing yourself through your dancing. It’s highly interpretive and requires a great deal of improvisation. It is also very raw and passionate and often comes from the soul.

With modern dance, movements are energetic and unpredictable, while contemporary dances are controlled and more choreographed, despite incorporating improv at the same time.

Both, however, are rhythmic, energetic, interpretive, and designed exclusively as a means of portraying raw passion and emotion and connecting the mind, body, and soul. You can also see how other dance styles and genres, particularly ballet, classical ballet, and jazz, helped shape them into what they are today.