The History and Style of Contemporary Ballet
Similarities and Differences from Traditional Classical Ballet
May 28, 2009
While it does not have a certain, defined “technique”, contemporary ballet has been developed from classical ballet styles, with a greater range of movement and work on the floor.
Contemporary Ballet Style
While parallel or turned-in positions are very rarely found in a classical ballet, they are frequently utilized in contemporary ballets. Contemporary as a style is more innovative and free, and it allows a dancer to manipulate ballet concepts into more modern pieces.
Origins and Development of Contemporary Ballet
George Balanchine is often considered to have been one of the first developers of contemporary ballet. Today, the Balanchine style is considered to be neoclassical ballet, and is placed between classical and contemporary. Balanchine used flexed hands and feet, turned-in legs, off-centered positions and non-classical costumes, such as leotards, unitards and tunics instead of tutus. He also included modern dancers in his company, the New York City Ballet.
One dancer who trained with Balanchine was Mikhail Baryshnikov. When Baryshnikov was named artistic director of American Ballet Theatre in 1980, he began working with various modern choreographers, such as Twyla Tharp. Tharp’s pieces were considered to be innovative for their use of distinctly modern movements combined with the use of pointe shoes and classically-trained ballet dancers. Compared with classical ballets on one side and modern pieces on the other, Tharp's movements were distinctly contemporary, a melding of both styles.
Contemporary Ballet in the World Today
There are many contemporary ballet companies and choreographers in the spotlight today, like Alonzo King and his company, Alonzo King's Lines Ballet, and Jirí Kilián, artistic director of the Nederlands Dans Theatre. Classical ballet companies, such as the Kirov Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet, also regularly perform contemporary works.
There are some similarities between contemporary and classical ballet:
- Both styles have a vocabulary that uses the French language.
- Both styles utilize dancers who are trained in technique as well as performance.
- Both styles emphasize a strong relationship to music.
There are also distinctions between contemporary and classical ballet:
- Classical ballet always has a storyline, while most contemporary ballet focuses on the movement.
- Classical ballet appears symmetrical, with both sides of the stage equally balanced. Contemporary ballet does not focus on symmetry, and having a stage that is unbalanced is characteristic of the style.
- Classical ballet choreography may incorporate pantomime and literal gestures; contemporary ballet does not, rather it focuses on a physical interpretation of the theme.
- Dancers in a classical ballet will mostly keep their backs straight and posture upright, while dancers in a contemporary ballet curve, twist and bend their upper bodies.
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