1. Freedom of Expression
Modern dance is all about expressing something deeply moving through the body. The art form developed from many different types of dance--tribal, ballet, jazz and ballroom dance all have influenced modern dance--because the range of human emotions cannot be pigeonholed into one single dance style. Modern dance recognizes the fluidity of the human experience and seeks to express it visually through the movement of the body. Happiness may be best expressed through a jazz move, while melancholy may show through the long, fluid lines of ballet.
2. Fundamental Moves
While modern dance is considerably more liberal than many other types of dance, it still has a strong tradition in technique. In fact, modern dancers must learn many different styles to properly perform modern dance routines. Jazz style is distinctly different from ballet, which is distinctly different from tribal dance. All of these various styles have specific technical moves that must be grasped before they can be combined into one cohesive unit.
Taking different classes in different genres is the best way to become acquainted with the fundamental techniques of each genre. Watch performances of different genres to gain a frame of reference. Each genre has a different feel that dancers should be aware of to re-create that feel in their own performances.
3. Let the Music Take You
Modern dancing is all about responding to the music with the body. This form of dance is very intuitive and relies on the powerful pull of human emotions. The music dictates the emotion of a piece. When combining dance elements in a modern dance routine, consider the pulse of the song for the overall tone that flows throughout a number. While the song may be melancholy, there may be moments of anger, passion or elation, which could all be expressed through different body movements. Elation may be best conveyed by doing leaps across the stage, while anger might look a bit like a tribal dance to bring rain.
Knowing where the music is taking you is important. A large part of seamlessly combining modern dance elements is having a developed ear for the music and integrating that into a vivid and free imagination.
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