Contemporary dance for beginners?

by Jessica Lee
(Las Vegas)

Hello,

I am a huge fan of contemporary dance. I am 18 years old and I would love to get involved in lessons. But I have one question. For those of us whom have never taken a dance class in their lives, how would we go about beginning contemporary dance? Should we take other dance classes first? (ballet, jazz, etc.)

Thanks so much!

- Jessica

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Contemporary dance for beginners?

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Feb 21, 2011
 Answer from Maria
by: Maria



Hello Jessica,

Ideally, you should start with basic contemporary dance classes for beginners of your age. It is important that you ask the teacher about the level of his class, because if you start trying difficult things, without a proper and progressive learning, you might loose your enthusiasm, thinking that you are not good for it: and that is not true.

Every person can learn to dance contemporary, but a slow and adequate educational process of coordination, body and skills is necessary. Sometimes it is not easy to find the perfect class for your needs (concerning level and age). In that case, try the one that's closer to it, keeping that aspect in mind, when it comes to evaluate if you like it or not.

There's something else you might want to consider. Contemporary dance classes differ a lot from one teacher to another. This is because it is not a rigid choreographic style, but opened to many possibilities. So, if you have the option, try or go and see the class of several teachers, and then choose the one that fits your personality the best.

Taking classes about other types of dance will always help, though you must know that you'll be incorporating other ways of coordination, positions, choreographic vocabulary and even psychological attitudes by doing that. There's nothing wrong with it. It's just more knowledge and more skills. The only thing that might happen is that you get used to those ways of moving and when trying the contemporary mode, you'll have to reorganize yourself to stand correctly into it.

I strongly recommend ballet to you, but ONLY if you find a class (again) FOR YOU LEVEL of abilities and knowledge. Ballet is a powerful method to develop dancing skills, but if done improperly it is highly counterproductive.

Jazz and other types of dance can also help you a lot in your learning process, if they fit your personality.

You can also try body-mind practices like yoga or workshops like pilates. They might not be oriented so much towards scenic and dancing skills, but they are very good to prepare your body, physiologically for it.

I wish you the best for your start. And don't hesitate to ask more questions if you have them. We'll be glad to share your experience.

Welcome to the magical world of contemporary dance.

Kindly,

Maria
Aug 13, 2011
 CONTEMPORARY
by: x

how old is to old to take an contemporary beginners class? im a 29 year old guy...
Aug 13, 2011
 Answer 2, from Maria
by: Maria

Hi there!

You might think I'm exaggerating, but it's never too late to begin taking contemporary dance classes.

Off course, you should go gently and be careful and attentive to the response of your body. Do not try acrobatic and difficult things at first.

But believe me, no age is an obstacle to try contemporary dance, if you understand that it is an enriching experience and a learning process, more than a result.

Go for it and you'll see!
Feb 05, 2012
 j
by: Anonymous

heyy .. what do i do if i know a bit of conetemporary but i am scared to sstart a new class
Feb 05, 2012
 Give your new start a try... it will be more than o.k.
by: Maria

Hi there!

What are you scared of? When you are in a contemporary dance class, you are always under control of what you do, no matter what the teacher says. So, if you keep this in mind, there's no way that the exercises could hurt you.

Now, if you are shy and that is what gives you the fear, I would recommend you to try giving less importance to what others think of you or of how you dance. Focus in your dancing experience and enjoy. You will see that once you try and realize that nothing wrong happens, you will loose fear progressively.

If you are afraid for another reason, you would have to tell us what that is, so that we see how to give you a hand.

Give your new start a try... it will be more than o.k. It will be fun and exciting...
Apr 24, 2012
 Contemporary dance
by: Ryan p

Hi i have got a intervew for a college dance cource on thusday and iv got to come up with a contemporary dance pece can i use modern dance with it and what is comtempory dance
Apr 28, 2012
 Reply for Ryan
by: Maria

Dear Ryan,

You can find a handy definition of contemporary dance in our special page for dance terms. Just scroll down the following page till you find the word:

Dance Terms

I guess you can indeed use some modern dance vocabulary within your contemporary dance piece, but that depends on the indications that are defined by the school you're applying too. I recommend you to better ask someone at the college.

Best of lucks in your interview!
May 30, 2012
 Gymnastics in Contemporary?
by: Emily

I've been taking gymnastics for a while, and I want to start contemporary dance. Would it help in dance to be able to do backhandsprings and back walkovers? Also, people in dance videos always seem to be doing stuff on a wooden floor. Do dancers always do stuff on a hard/wooden floor?
May 30, 2012
 Reply for Emily
by: Maria

Dear Emily,

Your whole gymnastics background might help for doing contemporary dance (including the back handsprings and the back walkovers). But that depends on the style of contemporary dance you do. Some styles are not so acrobatic and search for other expressive issues.

Dancers do not always do stuff on a hard/wooden floor. Again, that depends on the style or specific aesthetic project.

To widen your understanding of the many different styles and expressive possibilities of contemporary dance, I suggest you take your time to browse all over our website. Contemporary dance is so broad that you will need to really explore contemporary-dance.org to have a first idea. Anyway, here are some pages you could visit:

Scroll down till you find the definition of contemporary dance here: Dance terms

Contemporary dance videos

Contemporary dance pictures

Contemporary dance history

Warm regards,

Maria
Sep 24, 2012
 scared to start dancing now!
by: Anonymous

Hello! I recently just watched So You Think You Can Dance season 8, and it was marvelous! Everyone knows how to dance contemporary!(well, almost everyone!) That really inspired me, and that kind of dancing is so beautiful, I just fell in love with it. The problem is, I came to know about it this year, and I'm only sixteen. I really want to to start dancing it when I'm eighteen, but there are so many odd possibilities. I'm a bit shy; but I really want to try, especially when I start college. What should I do? Will I actually get good enough, or is it just going to be a waste?
Sep 24, 2012
 Maria's reply
by: Maria

Hi there!

You may still become an extremely good dancer (regardless of your age) but that depends on the time you dedicate to it from now on and on your talent for dance.

If you want to be a professional (or as good as a professional), you should start right away (don't wait until you're eighteen) and take classes daily. Otherwise, you can just take it easy and enjoy it. That's a great way to be a contemporary dancer as well.

For some starting tips, scroll up the page and read my first answer in this thread.

There are a lot of other useful threads in our forum for you. I recommend you to take your time to browse around and read. Here's the link to the main page of the forum:

Forum for questions about contemporary dance

Don't be scared to start. Even giving it a try can be a tremendously funny, interesting or healthy experience. I guarantee that...

Warm regards,

Maria
Dec 29, 2012
 Contemporary Dance
by: Charles T

I am a 17 year old male and I love to dance. I have wanted to be a contemporary dancer for quite some time, but I haven't taken classes in years nor can I afford to do so. I just wanted to know, what could I do?
Jan 02, 2013
 Reply for Charles
by: Maria

Dear Charles,

If you can't afford to take classes, you may want to try to be a self-taught dancer. Nowadays that is a lot easier thanks to the internet, Youtube and all the dancing videos you can watch there for free. It is off course not so easy as if you had teachers but if you really want to dance, you can try that out.

I gave some tips for self-taught dancing to Titta, from Finland, who has a similar situation. You can read them in my answer at the following page:

Tips for self-taught dancers

Warm regards,

Maria
Feb 17, 2013
 For admission ( Contemporary Dance)
by: Ashwin

Hello,
i am Ashwin based in India and i am a huge fan of contemporary Dance form and i want to learn this dance style. Please kindly provide the information on the same and I am a bigenner in contemporary dance. I am a dancer and past 10 years I am in to Dancing, I am in to Indian Classical and Bollywood and i am very much flexible to do any dance style and want to learn new dance forms. I would like to know of any sponsorship opportunities which can facilitate me in getting admission . I would be very grateful if I get any assistance in this regard. Mail me at (Ashwintalented@yahoo.co.in)

Best regards,
Ashwin
Feb 19, 2013
 Reply for Ashwin
by: Maria

Dear Ashwin,

I had sent you a personal e-mail explaining that contemporary-dance.org is an online website only. I guess you did not get it or maybe it was filtered by your server to your junk folder.

I do not give classes offline. If you are looking for a dance school, try browsing through our directory of dance schools. You may find a right place for you there:

Directory of contemporary dance schools worldwide

There are not many sponsorship programs for dancers in the world, but we also have a directory about it. Look there. One never knows...:

Dance scholarships

Warm regards,

Maria
Apr 13, 2013
 Too old for it?
by: Nhung

I am 18 now and I want to start contemporary dance. I gave up ballet 5 years ago and my body is not anymore so flexible. My 2 teacher said that I had talents for dancing but I am now afraid that it is too late to take up dancing again. What level could I reach if I start now?
Apr 18, 2013
 Reply for Nhung
by: Maria

Dear Nhung

The level you reach depends on how much you dedicate your self to study and train from now on.

I believe, you can definitely make a dancing career if you start again, at your age (18).

Please, read all my answers in the following related thread (they answer to your question too and they will show you links to other chats that may be useful for you):

Can I start dancing contemporary at 16?

Warm regards,

Maria
Apr 25, 2013
 BEGINNERS
by: Anonymous

hey

please assist me i am the girl of 21 yrs i want to involve myself in dancing ballet isn't going to be possible for me
Apr 25, 2013
 Maria's reply for the girl with 21 years old
by: Maria

Hi there...

Hey, don't worry if ballet is not possible for you.

If you want to learn contemporary dance, I recommend you to scroll up this page an read my first answer in the chat. I think it fits just what you're looking for now.

All the best,

Maria
May 03, 2013
 Advice
by: Anonymous

Hello. I'm 12 years old and I would like to start contemporary dance lessons. I have never taken a dance lesson before, I only dance in my living room when no one is watching. Do I need to take other classes to be a beginner contemporary dancer? And how much do you have to weight? I'm 12 years old, 5feet and 1 inch, about 120 pounds.
May 04, 2013
 Maria's reply for the girl that’s 12 years old
by: Maria

Hi there!

Hey, if you are concerned about your weight, please read my answer here:

Do you have to be thin to be a dancer?

To know what to do for starting, please scroll up the page and read my first answer in this same thread.

There are also other chats in our forum that may be of help for you. Take your time to explore and read:

Dance questions from beginners

Index page of the forum

All the best!

Maria
May 05, 2013
 Help
by: Lauren

Hello! I have wanted to start taking classes for Contemporary Dance for quite some time now. I am almost 16, but I won't be able to take them until I am 18. I'm only worried about two things. One, I am VERY shy. Will that become a problem? And two, I am slightly overweight. Would my weight get in the way of my dancing?
May 06, 2013
 Maria's reply for Lauren NEW
by: Maria

Hey Lauren...

I wrote something for shy dancers in a related chat. Please read my answer there:

Tip for shy dancers

I also wrote a complete answer for dancers who are concerned about their weight. Please scroll up a bit to the comment located just above your question and read it. You'll find the link to that answer right there.

Warm regards,

Maria

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