The bluffer's guide to contemporary dance

The basics...

What is contemporary dance?

Anything that doesn't fall into traditional categories like ballet, jazz, and hip hop - although contemporary dance often fuses these traditional styles in new ways. Contemporary is more about experimenting with movement and its effects.

How is a contemporary show different from a ballet?

Contemporary is a lot wilder and less structured than ballet. You won't see as many pointed toes, perfectly symmetrical formations or synchronised routines, and while ballets often tell fairy tale-like stories, contemporary shows usually explore an emotion or a concept. You'll notice a few other big differences - contemporary dancers often don't wear shoes, and there may be a lot more experimentation with costume, lights, music and set design.

Are the dancers as good as ballet dancers?

Yes. Ballet is the basis for contemporary dance, so contemporary dancers take the strength, body knowledge, and alignment of ballet training and mix it with other ways of moving. They are extremely versatile athletes and artists.

Where did it come from?

The contemporary style took off in the US in the 1920s and 30s as dancers rebelled against the constraints of ballet, with modern dance legends like Martha Graham, Lester Horton and Doris Humphrey all active during this period. Today, choreographers still study and use these pioneers' techniques in their work.

I keep picturing ‘spirit fingers' from Bring It On.

Some stuff is admittedly pretty out there. But there's a lot more to it than pretending to sizzle like bacon on the griddle. Some of the more expressionistic pieces won't have the typical athleticism people associate with dance but many shows are incredibly physically demanding.

What will I get from watching it?

The visceral enjoyment of the dancers' movement to the music is entertaining and often emotionally powerful. Oh, and pssst: sometimes the dancers do it naked!

Ahem. And where can I see it in Sydney?

Several contemporary companies call Sydney home, so check their websites to see their performance calendars. Many troupes from other parts of Australia and the world also perform in Sydney, so look at the websites of venues like the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Theatre, CarriageWorks, and NIDA's Parade Theatre to see who's stopping by this year.

How much does it cost?

A Sydney Dance Company ticket at the Sydney Theatre costs between $20 and $70. But a show at a smaller venue will usually go for less. Chunky Move's Glow at the Seymour Theatre this month, for example, is selling for $18-$25 a ticket.

Do I have to dress up?

Contemporary shows are less formal than a night at the ballet. Business casual will fit the bill, even at the Opera House.

Where to start...

Check out some of Australia's best contemporary companies.

Sydney Dance Company
The 15 dancers of SDC have strong backgrounds in ballet and present advanced work from some of the world's best choreographers. Having performed at international arts festivals in Venice and Shanghai this year, they're returning to Sydney this month with the second installment of New Creations, featuring two works by artistic director Rafael Bonachela ('Soledad' and 'Irony of Fate') plus a world premiere piece by Israeli choreographer Emanuel Gat. Sydney Theatre, 12–23 Oct.

Legs on the Wall
This no-holds-barred Sydney physical theatre company incorporates dance, acrobatics, comedy and theatrics into circus-like shows. Some productions happen outdoors and use landscape and architecture - Homeland, for example, was an aerial production that took place on the side of a skyscraper. For the Sydney Festival next year they're presenting a new show with the working title The Conjurer's Lottery featuring historic film, digital effects, vaudeville, acrobatics, flying and a little magic. CarriageWorks, 11–15 Jan 2011.

Bangarra Dance Theatre
Rooted in Aboriginal culture, Bangarra's dance style fuses the traditional with the contemporary to create stunning and stimulating dance. This month the Sydney outift wraps up the national tour of their acclaimed and most recent work, of earth & sky, which dazzled Opera House audiences in July and August. Next year they’ll be presenting About, based on the ancestral stories of Saibai Island; and artistic director Stephen Page’s piece about identity, ID. Before then, they’ll present a double-bill with the Sydney Dance Company for the Sydney Festival.

Chunky Move
Melbourne's Chunky Move push the boundaries of contemporary dance, performing both in-theatre pieces and site-specific works. Earlier this year they presented dance-video-music-laser performance Mortal Engine. Glow, one woman's pas de deux with technology, opens in Sydney this month. Seymour Centre, 13–16 Oct.

Dancenorth
Townsville's Dancenorth are known for their thought-provoking and visually striking shows, such as The Cry, a work by artistic director Raewyn Hill about addiction and dependency. Dancenorth became the first ever Australian dance company to participate in a residency at the Baryshnikov Arts Centre in New York City last month, developing a new work about soldiers returning from war called Black Crows.

Where to learn!

Academies teaching contemporary dance.

Dance Central
Lvl 1, 268 Cleveland St, Surry Hills 2010, 02 9319 2268.

Entity Contemporary Dance Collective
Seymour Centre, Cnr City Rd & Cleveland St, Chippendale, 02 9484 3520.

ElitePC
PCYC Burwood, 17 Deane St, Burwood, 02 9747 0461.

Expression Dance School
Various venues, 0410 436 337.

Sydney Dance Company
Pier 4, Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay, 2000, 02 9221 4811.

Urban Dance Centre
39 Greek St, Glebe, 2037, 02 9571 7099.

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