Contemporary Ballet
Also known as: Modern ballet
History & Cultural Context
Contemporary ballet developed from the late 20th century as choreographers blended the classical vocabulary with the floorwork, weight, and rule-breaking of modern and contemporary dance. William Forsythe extended and deconstructed classical line and balance (and developed his 'improvisation technologies'); Jiří Kylián, Wayne McGregor, and others created a continuous stream of new work for ballet companies. It overlaps with contemporary dance proper but keeps ballet technique as its foundation.
Cultural Significance
Contemporary ballet is where the classical repertory continually renews itself, commissioned by companies worldwide.
Characteristic Movement & Technique
Classical line pushed off-balance and to the floor, fused with contemporary weight, release, and partnering.
Common Misconceptions
Contemporary ballet (ballet-based) is related to but distinct from contemporary dance (modern/postmodern-based), though the two overlap heavily.
Signature Figures
- William Forsythe
- Jiří Kylián
- Wayne McGregor
Dance Lineage
Track Your Contemporary Ballet Progress
Practice Contemporary Ballet figures between lessons with Figure Focus — step-by-step breakdowns, floor diagrams, and progress tracking. Free to use.
Sources & Further Reading
Cultural & Historical Context
Contemporary Ballet emerged from Global during the 1980s—present day. Understanding the cultural roots, musical traditions, and social circumstances of this era enriches appreciation for the dance's characteristics and significance.
Formative Influences
Signature Movement Vocabulary:
William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Wayne McGregor
Primary Source Documents
The Library of Dance contains public-domain primary sources for dance history. Copyrighted modern syllabi are indexed with purchase links to their respective copyright owners. Search by dance name or codifier to discover primary source documents.
Last reviewed: June 2026 — This dance profile synthesizes historical research, cultural documentation, and contemporary practice knowledge to provide authoritative context.
Related Dances
More in Ballet
Ballet de Cour (Court Ballet)
The aristocratic court spectacle from which ballet grew, danced by nobles (including Louis XIV) and codified into the five positions and turnout under Beauchamp at the Académie Royale de Danse (1661).
Romantic Ballet
The early-19th-century era that introduced pointe work, the ethereal 'white ballet,' and the ballerina as central figure, exemplified by La Sylphide (1832) and Giselle (1841).
Classical Ballet
The full-evening story-ballet style perfected by Marius Petipa in Imperial Russia—Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker—that defines the core ballet repertory and codified virtuoso classical technique.
Neoclassical Ballet
The 20th-century style—pioneered by George Balanchine with Apollo (1928)—that retained classical technique while stripping narrative and scenery for speed, line, extension, and pure response to music.