What is the difference between a contemporary dance and a modern dance?

Adrienne Alexis: What is the difference between a contemporary dance and a modern dance?
Ive been dancing for 12 years mostly in ballet lyrical and jazz but i want to do a contemporary solo. I wasn’t sure if this was the best route to take considering i’m not sure if a ‘modern’ dance would be better for me?

Answers and Views:

Answer by handsomemanintights
they are basically the same thing. they are both used to describe one type of dance.

Answer by ktennn
I see contemporary as an outstretch of lyrical. It is a lot looser based from technique and really allows you to be creative style wise. When thinking of modern I look to Martha Graham or Jose Limon. These are two very specific techniques that involve in Graham’s case contractions and Limon’s a swinging action. Competition wise however I feel as if you would be more limited if you chose the modern route. Some judges look out for ‘modern movements’ contractions, side tilts that really limit your choreography. While taking the contemporary route, look at So You Think You Can Dance. I personally feel that there the sky is the limit.

Answer by Vlad ✩
I think Ktennn must be correct for competition dance. My answer is for professional concert dance and Contemporary dance is quite different then SYTYCD in the professional world of dance.

That would be companies like Aszure Barton, Doug Varone, Shen Wei, Gallim dance and choreographers like Mats Ek, Ohad Naharin and Jiri Kylián.
Modern dance has rules that Contemporary dance does not. Martha Graham, Limon, and Horton are always danced barefoot. It is very grounded and the movements follow strict guidelines. Contemporary has no rules and can be danced bare foot en pointe in socks or anything else they could think of. Here are some examples of some great contemporary pieces. They range from quite balletic to pedestrian in movements. This is what you would see taught at schools like Juilliard but not at competition schools.