Melbourne is dead serious about dance. Not just some casual weekend fun like most other cities, but a genuine, no-nonsense pursuit that churns out oodles of Australia’s working professional dancers and choreographers. And that makes all the difference when you’re on the hunt for a contemporary dance class that actually helps you get somewhere. Because let’s face it, in a city with this many studios, a timetable full of contemporary classes doesn’t necessarily mean any of them will teach you proper technique.
There are contemporary dance classes Melbourne that vary widely from recreational to pre-professional classes. Selection of a class should be done while considering techniques, safety on the floor, qualifications of teachers, and suitability of the program for one’s objectives. The ABS data from 2021-22 Cultural and Creative Activities survey indicates that about 32% of Australians aged 15 years and above engage in cultural activities, including dance.
What Contemporary Technique is Really About?
Contemporary dance takes its foundations from ballet techniques, release technique, and somatic practice, and then throws in some structured improvisation for good measure. It’s all about spatial awareness, shifting your weight around, and getting comfortable with floor work rather than just churning out some pre-fabricated choreographed routine. Students who start out with a decent ballet foundation make light work of contemporary training because their body already knows what to do to stay in alignment.
And let’s not forget about all the classes that get marketed as contemporary but actually blend more commercial styles throughout the curriculum, they’re not the same thing at all. So it’s worth asking the studio directly what they’re actually teaching before you hand over your hard-earned cash.
Why Melbourne is Different?
Melbourne’s got a few full-time dance training institutions that are really well connected with the industry, and even the part-time programs run by professional studios have got the same teaching philosophy going on. What this means is that students get taught by people who are actually working in the industry, people who know what’s what in the real world, and that makes all the difference when it comes to learning current industry practice.
And let’s not forget about all the guest artist workshops that come in with the big touring productions, that’s an experience that doesn’t quite translate to regional programs or some suburban dance school. And that’s exactly what students who are serious about making dance their career want to be seeing.
The Floor is Not to be Underestimated
A proper sprung floor that’s been designed to take the impact of thousands of repetitive moves across a year is an absolute must for any studio that wants to attract serious dancers. Non-sprung floors in converted spaces are a recipe for disaster, especially for students who are pushing themselves to do more. And if a studio can’t even tell you the engineering specs on their floor, then trust us, it’s not a place worth committing to.
This isn’t being picky, it’s being realistic, a good floor is the bare minimum for anyone who wants to take dance seriously.
Adults, Beginners and What Programmes Are Actually Designed For
According to ABS statistics, 32% of Australians over the age of 15 have participated in cultural activities, including dancing (Cultural and Creative Activities Survey: 2021-22). In Melbourne, this adult participation generates demand for a wide variety of training levels, resulting in programmes that differ widely by what they were really meant to provide.
Contemporary dance training for adults who do not have prior experience is completely different from pre-professional training programmes. While training programmes for beginners focus on strength development before any choreography is taught, performance-oriented programmes do not work on strength and base on imitation. The danger is the most acute when people are put through challenging choreography before their strength and mobility allow them to go through floor moves safely.
Professional Pathways: Questions
Those who want to pursue a professional career should be aware that the assessment in the industry is based on performance during the audition, not on how many lessons a person has taken. A full-time training programme requires physical preparation that is hard to achieve on a part-time basis.
Honest approach to the studio about long-term intentions will result in an honest recommendation instead of a trial-and-error approach of signing up for various programmes which are not designed for this purpose at all.
