What is the difference between modern, traditional and contemporary?

What's the difference between modern and contemporary dance?

• Are there actually classes called modern contemporary, or do they just come in separate dance classes? Which one is better and more fun? I started getting into it because of SYTYCD!, so just suggest which ever dance is closest to the routines they usually have on the show (like the mia michaels and mandy moore routines! :)

• Answer:

  Mia Michaels and Mandy Moore are more contemporary. I prefer contemporary, as it is more technical and challenging than modern. There are some classes that offer both modern and contemporary, but not many. You're best bet would be to take a lyrical class, which will almost always include tons of contemporary, unless it's a strange studio. ** Other styles to look at are: Ballet (obviously) because it's the fundamental of everything. Musical Theater which helps with stage presense and performance and is super fun. Jazz for more "tricks" or "moves" that you see on SYTYCD Hip-Hop for obvious reasons and . . . Ballroom because it's becoming more and more dominant in the dance world.