Release Your Inner Artist with Contemporary Dance
At Charlesworth Ballet School, we offer Contemporary Dance training for students aged 8 to 17 years old. Contemporary dance is an expressive and dynamic genre that blends elements from various dance styles, making it one of the most influential and exciting genres for formally trained dancers worldwide.
Contemporary dance fuses the strong, controlled legwork of Ballet with the expressive techniques of Modern Dance, emphasizing the body’s natural contraction and release. This genre explores the unpredictable changes in rhythm, speed, and direction, incorporating floor work, fall and recovery, and improvisation—fundamental elements of Modern Dance. Over time, Contemporary Dance has embraced influences from African and Japanese dance, adding unique layers of movement.
Foundations of Contemporary Dance
Charlesworth Ballet School’s Contemporary Dance programme introduces students to the foundations of two major techniques: Lester Horton and Martha Graham. These techniques focus on developing strength, flexibility, and a deeper awareness of the body’s movements through repetition and controlled, static shapes. The programme incorporates both curved and linear shapes to build foundational movement vocabulary.
In addition to learning technique, students engage in Composition work, where they learn to choreograph and collaborate with others to create original dances. This work is a perfect opportunity for students to express their creativity and explore their unique artistic voice.
Expanding Creativity and Technique
As students progress through the programme, they build on their earlier lessons, moving into more challenging exercises that require mobility and fluidity. By Term 3 and Term 4, students explore a wider range of movement, focusing on spatial awareness, coordination, and control. The syllabus encourages dancers to engage with gravity, suspension, and release, deepening their understanding of movement dynamics.
Through improvisation exercises, students develop their creativity, challenging them to step outside their comfort zones and experiment with new movement possibilities. The strength and coordination needed for Contemporary Dance beautifully complements the Classical Ballet training, offering students a chance to expand their movement vocabulary and performance abilities.
Performance Opportunities
Throughout the year, students will have the chance to showcase their growth and creativity. In Week 10 of Term 2, students will have the opportunity to perform choreography in our mid-year showcase, celebrating their progress and artistic development.
Join Charlesworth Ballet School’s Contemporary Dance programme and release your inner artist as you explore movement, expression, and creativity!
