Contemporary at festivals

[annaliesey]

We had a dance at a festival today in the 12 years and under contemporary duet category and it was danced to Chandelier by Sia with a 12 year old girl and a 9 year old. They were the only entry in their category.

 

The adjudicator remarked that the younger girl was far too young to be dancing a contemporary style.

 

Would you agree that contemporary is a more mature style for older dancers only?

[sarahw]

My understanding is that it is mostly danced by older children but I couldn't tell you why!!

Edited February 22, 2015 by sarahw

[pas de chat]

At vocational school children don't usually start contemporary until roughly 14 plus sometimes much later.  I think they like a good sound understanding of ballet and modern before they move on to other styles.  My opinion of contemporary is that it similar to pointe shoes you just have to wait and do your time.  

[along for the ride mum]

Which begs the question, why do they even have a contemporary 12 and under section if they don't like younger children doing it?

( not that I know anything about festivals - never been to one)

 

Edited for clarity and spelling

Edited February 22, 2015 by along for the ride mum

[sarahw]

Our local festivals mostly don't have contemporary at all but in some I think you can do it in alternative modern....

[taximom]

All England have contemporary for D and E and senior Contemporary duets, trios etc - possibly also Inters, can't remember. The top contemporary Dance Schools, Northern and London Contemporary Dance School do. Not accept under 18's except in very very rare cases. The dancers need life experience and maturity in their dancing. It is a technique that draws on other experiences and lasts a lifetime. You do need to be able to put emotional experiences into your dance which a younger dancers is unlikely to have. Contemporary as we understand it is not the contemporary you often see on Dance Moms so don't be misled!! Contemporary also has many different techniques - compare Matthew Bourne to Mark Morris to Richard Alston to Martha Graham to Merce Cunningham to Henri Ogwike! And enjoy!!

[Katymac]

At CATs they start at 10 or 11

[drdance]

It does depend on the choreography. Look up 'Chandelier' by Sia on youtube.... The dancer is Maddie Ziegler (From Dance Moms fame) and is now 12 I think. If it was anything like the video I'd totally agree with the adjudicator.

[Jazzpaws]

I have known girls enter contemporary sections at festivals without having had a single lesson. They had watched clips on youtube , made it up as they went along and then thought they were experts on contemporary dance without studying any of the many techniques ! I found some of these performances very strange.

DD studied contemporary when she joined her CAT scheme at 12, but it was alongside ballet classes and there were many sessions in class before any of it was put into their showcase. Not at all like the work I have seen at festivals. I do agree that contemporary performances are more for the older students with strong technique and training behind them, DD is building as much on her contemporary dance as her ballet now that she is at vocational school.

[annaliesey]

Thank you all I tend to agree but as katymac says they start at 10 with CAT or can do so I was a bit confused and also there is the 12 and under category and the ages of the performers are submitted beforehand. Maybe it's just not to be encouraged too early.

 

I was also looking at a syllabus and this gives minimum ages for exams from age 9 http://www.cdancea.com/examinations_7.html

[Pas de Quatre]

Not all contemporary CATs start at 10 or 11, Laban only starts from age 13.  I think this is because although there are different contemporary techniques, they are all much more "grounded" and need a more mature body.  

[Pointe-less]

Sorry but please could someone tell me what CAT's is?? Sorry if daft question but complete novis here!! Thank you!

[Pas de Quatre]

http://www.nationaldancecats.co.uk/

 

This is a link to the main website.  It is a scheme where talented dancers are identified and given extra training.  Some are classical, some contemporary and some urban.

 

Edited for spelling

Edited February 24, 2015 by Pas de Quatre

[2dancersmum]

CAT stands for Centre of Advanced Training - its a like an associate training programme for dancers who show potential that compliments local classes. Some centres specialise in contemporary, others ballet, circus arts or even South Asian dance at Dancexchange in Birmingham.

[Pointe-less]

Wow ok thank you I had never heard of it?!

[Katymac]

You can get funding for it an MDS like at the ballet schools & it covers uniform & travel in some cases

[Miracle]

Good afternoon all. My DS is doing his first contemporary solo in a few weeks, any ideas what he should wear? X

[Sandsfoot]

Good afternoon all. My DS is doing his first contemporary solo in a few weeks, any ideas what he should wear? X

My DD's teacher feels the costume should be quite plain and not distract too much from the dance, it depends on the feeling of the dance and whether it has a title or theme but I would have thought a unitard or leotard and shorts. If it is a bit more informal then I have seen boys wearing singlet vests and shorts or jazz style pants, which is very effective. Colour wise black seems most popular but I think it gets a bit tedious when they are all in black, perhaps grey, white or another muted colour, again it depends on the "theme" of the dance and his age.

If you watch the Sergei Polunin video where he is doing a contemporary style ballet to "Take me to church" then he is just wearing his tattoos and some flesh coloured tights, but perhaps that is going a bit too far, nice to watch though!

You could perhaps look at some images of the more modern ballets or the Prix de Lausanne/YAGP contemporary sections to get some ideas. 

Good luck

Edited February 25, 2015 by Sandsfoot

[Harwel]

My son wore a white vest and black PJ bottoms cut to the knee for a contemporary festival dance - looked effective, fitted with the music and was cheap!

[Huddsballetmum]

At CATs they start at 10 or 11

At Northern Contemporary CAT programme the youngest is 13 nearly 14.