Contemporary is a popular form of dance that although originally formed by borrowing from classical, jazz and modern styles, it has since come to incorporate elements from many styles of dance. 

 

Contemporary tends to utilize both the strong and controlled legwork of ballet and modern dance's stress on the torso.  It also employs contact release, floor work, fall and recovery and improvisation characteristic of modern dance.  

 

This allows the choreographer to create  and the dancer to perform a dance of expression to the more contemporary style of music incorporating unpredicatable changes in rhythm, speed and direction.