Sophie Beeston.

Comparing contemporary and ballet

technique.
CONTEMPORARY: - I have been looking at
two different techniques through searching 3
contemporary choreographers. The main one
that stood out to me was Jose Limon; I will be
comparing his technique to ballet, including
basic dance terminology and stage presence
that people use when they perform the
different styles. Josie limone was a great
admirer of a fellow choreographer named
Doris Humphrey. In 1946 he set his own
company. In the course of Josie limone career he created something called the
limone technique this consisted of fall and recovery. He wanted dancers to adapt
for a range of styles; he wanted interplay between weight and weightless
dancers. His style can be found in everyday performances to this modern day.
Limons plan was to express his personal relationship with the outside world
through his dance movements. Humphrey as Limons teacher inspired him in
many ways including the use of fall and rebound and also influenced by
vocabulary of suspension and succession. His dance style shower pure
expression and passion, the performance for his style as to feel the movements.
Something else that Jose used in his choreography was the movement of his
shoulder, this was moving in different directions initiated simultaneously the
movement of the arms, torso, or legs.
BALLET: - This style is very specific and placed
this is a complete contrast to contemporary
technique. In ballet the correct technique is
required, such as posture, pointing the toes and
not sickling, holding the core, so that shoulders
are down and also pulling up so that the correct
stance is used and turn out needs to be held.
The terminology for ballet is set unlike
contemporary, specific movements is the
meanings for different things. Also the head
correlates with the arms that are chosen to use.
Positions are named first second third and fourth. Usually learning ballet starts
with simple barre work, this includes elements of ballet technique, and the core
needs to be held constantly for a nice posture and line.
CAMPARISON: - if we compare the two styles they have similarities and
differences, they are firstly the terminology that id used for the different
movement that the dancer is required to do. Secondly the technique that is used
in each of the styles also is different, the ballet technique is much placed and a

flowing style of dance that can tell a story, however contemporary is slightly
different in that the movements can be sharp and sustained and if it was to be
telling a story it would be more complex to try and understand.