From Intermediate to Advanced: The 3 Dance Styles Experts Say to Master Next
You've nailed the basics. You can freestyle with confidence and pick up choreography. So, what's the next step on your dance journey? We asked leading choreographers, movement analysts, and studio directors what styles provide the biggest technical and artistic leap.
The transition from intermediate to advanced dancer isn't just about cleaner lines or faster turns. It's about deepening your connection to music, understanding the cultural and historical context of movement, and developing a unique artistic voice. The following three styles were consistently recommended as "gateway" disciplines to that advanced level.
1 Contemporary
The Style of Emotional Intelligence & Physicality
Don't mistake this for just "slow, expressive modern." Today's contemporary is a fusion ballet, modern, jazz, and even theatrical elements. Experts tout it as the ultimate translator of emotion into movement.
"Intermediate dancers often think in counts of eight," says renowned choreographer Maya Chen. "Contemporary forces you to think in phrases, in breath, in intention. It breaks the rigid structure and asks, 'What is the story behind this step?'"
Why It Levels Up Your Dance:
- Floorwork & Connectivity: You'll learn to move in and out of the floor with efficiency and grace, using gravity as a partner, not an enemy.
- Dynamic Range: It teaches explosive power juxtaposed with suspended, delicate control—a skill that translates to every other style.
- Artistic Authenticity: It pushes you to move from a place of personal interpretation, moving beyond imitation to creation.
Pro Tip: Start with Horton or Graham-based technique classes to build the necessary strength and contraction/release vocabulary before diving into more abstract, fusion-based contemporary.
2 West African Dance
The Style of Polyrhythm & Communal Energy
If you want to master musicality that goes far beyond the downbeat, this is non-negotiable. West African dance is rooted in complex polyrhythms played by live drummers, where different parts of your body may be moving to different rhythmic patterns simultaneously.
"It humbles you," shares cultural dance educator Kofi Mensah. "You can't just memorize steps. You must listen, internalize the drum's conversation, and respond with your whole body. It develops a rhythmic sophistication that makes pop or hip-hop musicality feel like a simple sentence."
Why It Levels Up Your Dance:
- Polycentric & Polyrhythmic Movement: Isolations become second nature as you learn to articulate shoulders, ribs, and hips independently to different drums.
- Stamina & Grounded Power: The movements are athletic, grounded, and sustained, building incredible core strength and endurance.
- Context & Community: You learn dance as a language of history, celebration, and storytelling, adding profound depth to your performance.
Pro Tip: Embrace the live drumming. The connection between drummer and dancer is sacred. Focus on feeling the rhythm in your chest before trying to execute the step perfectly.
3 House Dance
The Style of Improvisation & Groove
Born from the underground club culture of Chicago and New York, House is often the missing piece for dancers strong in choreography but hesitant in freestyle. It's a social dance at its core, built on fast footwork, subtle torso movements, and a deep, unwavering connection to the "jack" or pulse of house music.
"House dance isn't about a set routine; it's a conversation with the music and the space around you," explains veteran house dancer Leo "Footwork" Vega. "It teaches you to be comfortable in the unknown, to listen to the layers in the music—the hi-hats, the bassline, the vocals—and let each one inspire a different movement."
Why It Levels Up Your Dance:
- Improvisational Confidence: It removes the fear of freestyle by giving you a rich vocabulary of steps (like the salsa step, skating, lofting) and a philosophy of play.
- Speed & Precision: The lightning-fast footwork demands and develops incredible lower-body articulation and coordination.
- Musical Layering: You learn to dance not just to the melody, but to the percussion, the synth stabs, and the atmospheric sounds, making your musicality multidimensional.
Pro Tip: Start by finding the consistent "pulse" or "jack" in the music. Let your torso bounce lightly to it. The footwork builds from that steady, internal groove. Don't watch your feet—feel the floor.
The Common Thread: Beyond Steps
What makes these three styles the unanimous choice for advancement? They all force you to dance from the inside out. Contemporary demands emotional intent. West African requires rhythmic listening. House thrives on improvisational response. They move you from being a technician of steps to becoming a musician with your body.
Your challenge isn't to master all three at once, but to choose one that calls to you and study it with the same dedication you gave your first dance class. Be a beginner again. That humility, paired with your existing foundation, is the true catalyst for becoming an advanced dancer.
