Contemporary and Lyrical Dance

What is Contemporary Dance?

Contemporary dance emerged in the 20th century as a way to stray from the more traditional and structured styles, breaking the conventional method of dance which focuses on the freedom of movement.

In modern times there is no rule of thumb to what type of elements their performance can include, but you will find a combination of techniques often ranging from ballet, jazz, modern, break dancing and even yoga and Pilates.   Students enjoy exploring their emotions and use their natural energy to portray personal expression in their contemporary dance techniques.  It is imperative to have a sound classical ballet technique in training in contemporary styles of dance.

The Contemporary Dance Program at Danzart

Our students are trained in different modern/contemporary dance methods from the techniques of early founders Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham and Horton to the latest commercial styles.  

Danzart offers exams in the CSTD Jason Winters Contemporary Syllabus.

Contemporary Dance at Danzart Studio from Danzart Principal on Vimeo.

 
What is Lyrical Dance?

Lyrical dance is a combination of ballet and jazz dance that often uses music with lyrics to inspire the movements of the dancer. Choreographers use the lyrics from the song to inspire the dance and the result is a style that focuses on strong emotion as well as a more individual approach than some dance styles. It is also a very precise dance with the dancer’s movements portraying the emotion and story of the song.

Lots of different types of music are used for lyrical dance. These include pop, rock and blues as well as hip-hop and music from around the world.