Contemporary dance occupies a unique space in the performing arts—rooted in technique yet fiercely individual, historically informed yet endlessly innovative. For dancers who have mastered foundational vocabulary and are ready to deepen their practice, the path forward can feel frustratingly vague. What does "taking it to the next level" actually mean when the form itself resists rigid hierarchy?
This guide offers concrete, level-appropriate strategies for intermediate dancers seeking pre-professional readiness. Rather than generic advice, you'll find specific techniques, measurable practices, and frameworks for sustainable growth.
Defining Your "Next Level"
Before diving into training strategies, identify where you currently stand. Progress in contemporary dance isn't linear, but these stages help clarify your focus:
| Level | Focus | Key Question |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1: Technical Consolidation | Consistency, expanded vocabulary, anatomical efficiency | "Can I execute complex phrase work with precision and stamina?" |
| Level 2: Artistic Development | Dynamic range, personal voice, theatrical presence | "Am I making choices that only I could make?" |
| Level 3: Professional Integration | Choreographic thinking, adaptability, career sustainability | "Can I contribute to a creative process beyond my own performance?" |
Most readers of this guide likely oscillate between Levels 1 and 2. The strategies below address both, with notes on when to prioritize each.
Build Your Technical Foundation (Level 1 Priority)
Contemporary dance's freedom depends on disciplined structure. Without conscious alignment, "release" becomes collapse; without ballet's verticality, floorwork loses its dynamic contrast.
Ballet: The Contested Essential
Rather than generic ballet classes, seek training that emphasizes:
- Adagio development: Sustained balances and controlled extensions build the leg strength and back stability for contemporary suspension
- Allegro precision: Clean weight shifts between feet translate directly to contemporary traveling sequences
- Port de bras as initiation: Practice arm movements originating from the back, not the shoulder—this coordination underlies contemporary upper body fluidity
"I spent years trying to look 'contemporary' before realizing I needed to understand my ballet alignment so I could deliberately break it," says Elena Vostrikov, dancer with Batsheva Dance Company. "Now I use turnout as a choice, not a default."
Recommended practice: 2–3 ballet classes weekly, supplemented with 15 minutes of barre work before contemporary classes if your schedule allows.
Contemporary Techniques Worth Studying
Move beyond studio-brand "contemporary" to specific methodologies:
| Technique | Core Principles | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Graham | Contraction/release, spiral, breath-driven movement | Dancers seeking grounded power and emotional intensity |
| Horton | Flat backs, lateral stretches, dynamic range | Building anatomical clarity and versatility |
| Cunningham | Spine as separate from legs, chance procedures, clarity | Precision, rhythmic complexity, deconstructed movement |
| Release Technique | Efficiency, minimal effort, skeletal alignment | Sustainable dancing, longevity, subtle dynamics |
| Gaga | Sensory awareness, improvisation, pleasure in movement | Breaking habits, rediscovering instinct, performer presence |
| Contact Improvisation | Weight sharing, momentum, responsive partnering | Spontaneity, trust, three-dimensional spatial awareness |
Action step: Commit to one unfamiliar technique for six weeks. Document what feels foreign—this friction indicates growth edges.
Develop Your Artistic Voice (Level 2 Priority)
Technique without intention produces hollow performance. Contemporary dance demands that you bring something only you can offer.
The Restriction Method
Artistic constraint paradoxically expands creativity. Try this 20-minute practice:
- Select a 3-minute piece of music with clear dynamic shifts
- Improvise five times, each with a different restriction:
- Round 1: Spine only (head through tailbone)
- Round 2: Arms only (shoulder girdle to fingertips)
- Round 3: Lower body only (hips through feet)
- Round 4: No verticality—stay on the floor throughout
- Round 5: Your choice, combining insights from previous rounds
Record each round. Review for moments of unexpected authenticity—movement that surprised you. These often indicate your emerging style.
Embodied Research
Contemporary dance draws from life, not just dance history. Develop a practice of:
- Movement observation: Weekly, spend 30 minutes watching how people move in public spaces—not to copy, but to expand your kinetic imagination
- Cross-disciplinary study: Visual art composition, musical improvisation, and theatrical devising techniques all inform contemporary choreographic thinking
- Personal archiving: Maintain a video log of improvisations, class phrases, and
