Contemporary dance – a therapeutic, variable and fluid dance form!
For those just starting out with their contemporary dance classes, you may have noticed that there are no established movement patterns or standardised movement trends! IT can be confusing as a beginner, especially if you are a kind of person who likes things to be organised, defined and tangible. It may seem haphazard to the untrained eye – but therein lies the beauty of contemporary dance.
There are no uniquely defines movements and one lesson can be wildly different from the other. However, this fluidity also opens up a world of beautiful possibilities! The wide variety of form, dynamics and quality of movement offer infinite possibilities for creating beautiful dance routines, limited only by the choreographer and performers’ imagination and creativity. From ballet to martial arts and even exotic dance forms, a contemporary dance routine can seamlessly incorporate different elements to form an eclectic whole.
As a newcomer to this dance form, we urge you to try and enjoy the rhythm of the dance and flow to the music. Try to cultivate a state of ‘relaxed moving’ by releasing all the tension on your body as you dance. Not only will your dancing improve and look much more aesthetically appealing, such relaxing movement also has the potential to be therapeutic. Studies have shown that in contemporary dance forms where dance techniques involve the enhancement of self-awareness and an active focus on promoting relaxed and healthy practice can also be beneficial to retrain the body to move in a way that promotes general wellness!
As a beginner it can be confusing not to have a structured learning experience but if you relax into the process, you will not only come away with a new dance skill, you will also come away with a positive, relaxing experience. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your contemporary dance practice:
Breathe.
Breathing helps connect your mind and body and puts you in a relaxed state of mind. This will also reflect on the quality of your dance performance.
Open your mind.
Don’t go in expecting to name every move and emulate your instructor to perfection. Otherwise, you will be setting yourself up you failure.
Listen to your body.
Relaxed movement doesn’t main paying less attention to your body movements. Relaxed movement involves a state of relaxed attentiveness. Although your body is relaxed, your mind should be alert so that you can prevent injuries and your movements stay purposeful.
Dancer’s Gallery is leading Contemporary Dance Classes in Cooper City & Davie. Learn modern dance techniques as well as newer philosophies of movement that depart from classical dance techniques.