Contemporary dance isn’t just about movement, it’s about telling a story. The style is constantly evolving, allowing the dancers to express themselves in various genres such as classical ballet, jazz, and lyrical dance with a modern twist.
Focusing more on floor work rather than leg work and pointe, contemporary dance isn’t restricted by the rules of traditional dance styles, relying on versatility and fluidity to communicate abstract ideas to the viewer.
Fresno State is no stranger to contemporary dance, with a multitude of shows taking place, particularly in the spring semesters.
“Last year’s performance ranks really high for me. It was a group that I’ve worked with for a couple years, so I know them really well,” said Kenneth Balint, the artistic director for Fresno State’s Contemporary Dance Ensemble. “I know the good, the bad, and the ugly. The production really benefited from working with them for a couple years.”
The Contemporary Dance Ensemble (CDE) is set to take up that challenge of self-expression in their performances, inviting students to experience the power of interpretive dance in Spring 2025.
With the upcoming performance, CDE is preparing to showcase six pieces, choreographed by Balint and up to two guest artists, who get three-day residencies to teach a dance work for the show that is around 10 minutes long.
The Spring 2025 show will include work from a student choreographer as a training to make a piece and put it into production with CDE.
“I’m restaging an 80s piece we did about two years ago, and then there’s also two other new pieces,” Balint said.
The ensemble is designed to give space to students. They spend the fall semester working with Balint, challenging themselves creatively while also connecting with their personal identities through dance. For the dancers of the Contemporary Dance Ensemble, each performance is more than just showing off their skills, it allows them to tell a story.
“Contemporary dance, I would say, is raw,” said Sophia McAllister, a child development major and CDE dancer at Fresno State. “The connection the audience has with the dancer truly is intimate because of how vulnerable the style can be.”
Other dancers echoed this sentiment, sharing how contemporary dance allows them to discover parts of themselves they may not have without it.
Dancers like Juana Cardenas, a dance major at Fresno State, say that contemporary dance lets them embrace creativity and self-expression, “The style of dance has become my outlet, and I am grateful to be able to fully immerse myself in something that allows me to fully be ‘me’.”
Auditions for the Contemporary Dance Ensemble take place in the Spring, normally around April in Music 124, and Balint invites everyone to take part.
“A lot of people think that there has to be something special going on for them to take a dance class, but some of the beginning classes are the most fun, because people are just there, and they’re enjoying the experience.” says Balint.
Students in the program echoed this statement, McAllister adds that having the freedom to move and create is something that she feels everyone should experience, “It doesn’t matter your age, what you look like, or your experience in dance, everyone is capable.”
For more information about the Contemporary Dance Ensemble auditions, students can contact the Department of Theatre and Dance at 559.278.3987 or email [email protected].
