Arts & Culture
Principles of Choreography in Contemporary Dance Works
Quick fact
In 1960s postmodern dance, choreographer Merce Cunningham famously used chance procedures (like coin tosses) to determine movement sequences, demonstrating that choreographic principles can embrace unpredictability.
Why this is interesting
Why do contemporary dancers often seem to move with a mind of their own, yet every gesture feels deliberate and meaningful? The answer lies in a set of choreographic principles that turn everyday motion into profound expression.
Read the full explanation
Understanding Principles of Choreography in Contemporary Dance Works
Think of choreographic principles as the 'grammar' of movement. Just as writers arrange words to form sentences, choreographers arrange movements using tools like space (where the dancer goes), time (when and how fast), energy (sharp or smooth, heavy or light), and body (which parts move and how they are aligned). In contemporary dance, these elements are often deconstructed and reassembled in non-traditional ways. For example, a choreographer might use the floor as a primary space, move in slow motion for minutes, or isolate just the hand and spine while the rest of the body stays still. The key is that every choice—whether a sudden drop, a prolonged pause, or a partner’s weight being supported—serves the work’s emotional or conceptual goal. Unlike ballet’s structured steps, contemporary choreography often draws from everyday gestures or pure improvisation, revealing the dancer’s personal interpretation.
A deeper explanation
The principles of choreography rest on the interplay of four main axes: space, time, energy, and body. Space includes not only the stage’s shape and the dancer’s path (curves, diagonals, levels) but also how negative space (empty areas) is used. Time involves rhythm, tempo changes, and phrasing—the arc of a movement from initiation to stillness. Energy (or dynamics) ranges from sudden, percussive bursts to sustained, floating gestures, often described using Laban’s effort actions (float, punch, glide, etc.). Body refers to alignment, coordination, and movement initiation, such as leading from the hip or the breath. Additionally, relationship—how dancers interact with each other or with objects—is a key principle, including contact improvisation where weight-sharing and touch guide movement. Choreographers apply these principles by choosing a focus, like exploring the tension between falling and recovering (energy/body), and then structuring a sequence that surprises or clarifies that idea. The principle of abstraction takes real-life actions (walking, reaching) and strips them of context to reveal pure form. Ultimately, these principles matter because they give choreographers a flexible toolkit for communicating without words, allowing each work to be a unique exploration of human motion and emotion.