Senior High School (SHS) 

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Lesson 5– MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY DANCE

Lesson Objectives:
 Understand the difference between modern and contemporary dance
 Know the history of modern and contemporary dance
 Identify the different examples of modern and contemporary dance

I need to know……..
What is it about the words “contemporary" and “modern" that has dancers,
choreographers, and artistic directors talking these days? Modern dance!
Contemporary dance! To the average dance enthusiast, these terms might appear to be
synonymous. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Since there seems to
be some confusion about what these terms actually mean, we’ve broken down some of
the key differences for you below!

Let’s find out!

MODERN DANCE
Developed in the early 1900s, the time when dancers
came out against the stiffness and restraints of classical
ballet. It created its own techniques, costumes, shoes,
and gave more attention to self-expression and
individual creativity rather than technical expertise. It
allows dancers and choreographers to create steps using
their moods and emotions producing a more relaxed
dance style.

CONTEMPORARY DANCE
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SOFTNET Information Technology Center Inc. Physical Education 12
2nd Floor Bldg., SFB #8 FAB Mariveles, Bataan 2106 Most Essential Learning Competencies

Contemporary dance is a genre of dance performance that

developed during the mid-twentieth century and has since
grown to become one of the dominant genres for formally
trained dancers throughout the world, with particularly strong
popularity in the U.S. and Europe.

Contemporary dance can be fluid or strong & expressive dance movement. Students are
taught to tell a story through the music and movement. Dancers are trying to convey an
emotion and expressiveness through movement. Choreography can be narrative and tell a
story through abstract movement.

Here are some examples of modern dances:

• Ballet

In the aspect of modern dances, it is characterized by floor work; turn-in of the legs; greater range of
movement and body line; and pointe shoes but also bare feet.

• Burlesque

A literary, dramatic, or musical work which aims to create laughter by caricaturing the behavior of
serious works or via absurd treatments of such subjects.

• Ballroom Dance

A duet dance, this refers to any type of partner dancing as recreation. It is enjoyed both socially and
competitively globally

• Belly Dancing

Also known as Arabic dance or Raqs sharqi, it is a dance originating from Egypt and emphasizes on
the complex movements on the torso.

• Jazz

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SOFTNET Information Technology Center Inc. Physical Education 12
2nd Floor Bldg., SFB #8 FAB Mariveles, Bataan 2106 Most Essential Learning Competencies

A performance dance style and technique which emerged along with jazz music. This can be referred
to as vernacular jazz or to Broadway or theatrical jazz.

Contemporary Dance is a collaborative style that includes modern, jazz, ballet, and hip hop
elements.

FAMOUS MODERN AND

COTEMPORARY DANCERS IN THE
PHILIPPINES

Founder of Ballet Philippines (BP), the country’s premiere company in

ballet and contemporary dance, the multi-talented dancer,
choreographer, and artistic director Alicia Garcia Reyes is among the
recently proclaimed National Artist by President Benigno Simeon
Aquino 3rd on June 20.

“The Mother of Philippine Contemporary Dance”

Douglas Nierras is the founder, artistic director, and choreographer of

Douglas Nierras Powerdance. Creatively involved in dance over four
decades, His present choreographic and teaching style is the distillation
of influences from the various companies he became a part of as well as
academic training in dance pedagogy, both here and abroad.

In 2019 Nierras received his Lifetime Achievement Award in Dance

and was voted in Aliw Awards BEST Choreographer twice one in the
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SOFTNET Information Technology Center Inc. Physical Education 12
2nd Floor Bldg., SFB #8 FAB Mariveles, Bataan 2106 Most Essential Learning Competencies

90's and 2nd in 2019 while Powerdance was elevated to the 2004 Hall
of Fame of the ALIW Awards as Best Pop/Jazz Contemporary Dance
Group for having won the award three years in a row (2001, 2002, and
2003) and won the best Ensemble for the Binondo a Tsinoy Musical
2019.

Thinking outside the box.

 What are the importance of contemporary and modern dance for students
like you?

1.

2.

3.

 Which dance is best for you? A modern or contemporary dance and why?

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 What example of modern or contemporary dance you enjoy the most even
you are not a dancer?

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SOFTNET Information Technology Center Inc. Physical Education 12
2nd Floor Bldg., SFB #8 FAB Mariveles, Bataan 2106 Most Essential Learning Competencies

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