Defining the Difference Between Modern, Lyrical, and Contemporary Dance
Dance is an art form that continually evolves, and the boundaries between its various styles often overlap, especially when it comes to modern, lyrical, and contemporary dance. These three genres are distinct, yet they share certain elements, leading to understandable confusion. In this blog, we’ll break down each of these styles, exploring their origins, key characteristics, and how they interrelate.
What is Modern Dance?
Modern dance emerged in the early 20th century as a response to the rigid structure of classical ballet. According to Merriam-Webster, it is "a form of theatrical and concert dance that arose... as a reaction against the formalized structure of classical ballet." Modern dance pioneers like Martha Graham, Lester Horton, Merce Cunningham, José Limón, and Katherine Dunham shaped the techniques that are still taught today.
Unlike ballet, modern dance embraces grounded movement, emotional expression, and often minimalistic staging. It allows dancers to explore raw human emotions and narratives, unencumbered by the strict rules of traditional ballet.
Key Elements of Modern Dance:
Grounded, weighty movements
Focus on emotional or narrative storytelling
Rejection of classical ballet conventions
Techniques associated with specific pioneers (e.g., Graham, Horton)
What is Lyrical Dance?
Lyrical dance is often seen as a blend of ballet and jazz, with expressive, flowing movements that reflect the music’s emotion. True to its name, lyrical dance focuses on interpreting a song's lyrics through movement, emphasizing storytelling and connection between the dancer and the music. While it often uses slower, more dramatic music, faster-paced songs can also be incorporated to tell a story.
Lyrical allows dancers to merge technique with feeling, making it a popular style for those who want to express deep emotion in their performances.
Key Elements of Lyrical Dance:
Combines ballet and jazz techniques
Interprets and follows the lyrics of a song
Focuses on emotional expression and storytelling
Characterized by smooth, flowing, and graceful movements
What is Contemporary Dance?
Contemporary dance is a versatile, ever-evolving style that blends elements from multiple genres, including modern, lyrical, jazz, and classical ballet. Unlike modern dance, which has a set of specific techniques, contemporary is less defined by a single style and more by the individual vision of the choreographer or teacher.
This freedom allows contemporary dance to be deeply expressive, often incorporating grounded movements from modern dance, the emotional depth of lyrical, and even improvisation or hip-hop influences. Contemporary dance is fluid, experimental, and often a reflection of the teacher’s unique style.
Key Elements of Contemporary Dance:
Combines techniques from various dance genres
Fluid, ever-evolving, and adaptable
Defined by the choreographer or teacher’s style
Includes both grounded and expressive movements
How Do These Styles Overlap?
The differences between these styles can sometimes be hard to pin down. For instance, the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance is a perfect example of how the lines between modern and contemporary dance can blur. Graham, a pioneer of modern dance, also inspired contemporary movement. Her school uses the term “contemporary” to reflect the evolution of dance, pushing boundaries and expanding on what modern dance first set out to do.
Lyrical, while emotionally expressive like contemporary, is more structured and rooted in classical technique. The emotional storytelling in lyrical dance is driven by the music’s lyrics, whereas contemporary dance allows for broader experimentation, incorporating various genres and movements.
Why Does Dance Moves Offer Lyrical and Modern Dance, but Not Contemporary?
At Dance Moves, we prioritize modern and lyrical dance to ensure our students develop a strong technical foundation. Modern dance builds strength, coordination, and body awareness through techniques like Graham and Horton. Lyrical dance, with its blend of ballet and jazz, enhances musicality and emotional expression.
By focusing on these well-defined styles, we provide students with the consistency and clarity they need to master essential techniques. Once they have a solid foundation in modern and lyrical, dancers are well-prepared to explore other dance styles, including contemporary. Our approach nurtures artistic growth, encouraging students to express themselves creatively and confidently while mastering critical skills.
Conclusion
While the distinctions between modern, lyrical, and contemporary dance may blur, understanding the roots and key characteristics of each style helps dancers and instructors alike to appreciate their unique qualities. At Dance Moves, we believe that starting with modern and lyrical dance lays a solid groundwork, preparing dancers for a future of artistic exploration in any dance style they choose to pursue.
Rachel is the Director of Dance Moves and has been on the team for over ten years. Her knowledge is one of the keys to our strong technique programming. Thank you, Rachel, for this incredible article encapsulating our work. Ready to try a Modern or Lyrical Class? Reach out to Rachel
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