Dancer Drew Jacoby of contemporary ballet company Alonzo King's LINES Ballet.

Contemporary ballet is a form of dance influenced by both classical ballet and modern dance. It takes its technique and use of pointework from classical ballet, although it permits a greater range of movement that may not adhere to the strict body lines set forth by schools of ballet technique. Many of its concepts come from the ideas and innovations of 20th century modern dance, including floorwork and turn-in of the legs. Classical ballet is a dance to classical music. ... picture of Isadora Duncan - Source: Library of Congress Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. ... (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999... picture of Isadora Duncan - Source: Library of Congress Modern dance is a dance form developed in the early 20th century. ...

History

George Balanchine is often considered to have been the first pioneer of contemporary ballet. Today the style he developed is now known as neo-classical ballet, a style of dance between classical ballet and today's contemporary ballet. Balanchine used flexed hands (and occasionally feet), turned-in legs, off-centered positions and non-classical costumes (such as leotards and tunics instead of tutus) to distance himself from the classical and romantic ballet traditions. Balanchine also brought modern dancers in to dance with his company, the New York City Ballet; one such dancer was Paul Taylor, who in 1959 performed in Balanchine's piece Episodes. Balanchine also worked with modern dance choreographer Martha Graham, expanding his exposure to modern techniques and ideas. Also during this period, choreographers such as John Butler and Glen Tetley began to consciously combine ballet and modern techniques in experimentation. George Balanchine (January 9 (O.S.) = January 22 (N.S.), 1904–April 30, 1983) was one of the 20th centurys foremost choreographers, and one of the founders of American ballet. ... Logo of the New York City Ballet The New York City Ballet is a ballet company founded in 1948 by choreographer George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein originally known as the American Ballet. ... Paul Taylor (born July 29, 1930) is one of the foremost American choreographers of the 20th century. ... Martha Graham and Bertram Ross in Visionary Recital, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1961 Martha Graham (May 11, 1894 – April 1, 1991), an American dancer and choreographer, is known as one of the foremost pioneers of modern dance. ...

One dancer who trained with Balanchine and absorbed much of this neo-classical style was Mikhail Baryshnikov. Following Baryshnikov's appointment as artistic director of American Ballet Theatre in 1980, he worked with various modern choreographers, most notably Twyla Tharp. Tharp choreographed Push Comes To Shove for ABT and Baryshnikov in 1976; in 1986 she created In The Upper Room for her own company. Both these pieces were considered innovative for their use of distinctly modern movements melded with the use of pointe shoes and classically-trained dancers -- for their use of "contemporary ballet". 209. ... The American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, is one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century, and a leading company in America. ... Twyla Tharp (b. ...

Tharp also worked with the Joffrey Ballet company, founded in 1957 by Robert Joffrey. She choreographed Deuce Coupe for them in 1973, using pop music and a blend of modern and ballet techniques. The Joffrey Ballet continued to perform numerous contemporary pieces, many choreographed by co-founder Gerald Arpino. In 1956, Ballet teacher Robert Joffrey and choreographer Gerald Arpino formed a six-dancer ensemble that toured the country performing original ballets during a time when most touring companies performed mere reduced versions of ballet classics. ... Robert Joffrey (Dec 24, 1930 - March 25, 1988) was a ballet dancer, director and choreographer. ... Gerald Arpino (born January 14, 1928) American dancer and choreographer; Artistic Director of The Joffrey Ballet. ...

Today there are many explicitly contemporary ballet companies and choreographers. These include Alonzo King and his company, Alonzo King's LINES Ballet; Nacho Duato and Compañia Nacional de Danza; William Forsythe, who has worked extensively with the Stuttgart Ballet and today runs his own company; and Jiří Kilián, currently the artistic director of the Nederlands Dans Theatre. Traditionally "classical" companies, such as the Kirov Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet, also regularly perform contemporary works. Jiří Kilián (or Jiří Kylian) (born 1947) is a Czech dance choreographer He studied in Prague, as well as at the Royal Ballet School in London. ... Nederlands Dans Theater (Dutch Dance Theatre) is a contemporary dance company established in 1959 breaking away from a more traditionally oriented ballet company. ... Kirov can refer to: Sergey Kirov, Bolshevik revolutionary and Soviet communist The north-eastern European Russian city Kirov, center of Kirov Oblast The Soviet warship Kirov, now of the Russian Navy, lead ship of the Kirov class of battlecruisers. ...