Street Dance Vs Contemporary – What’s the Difference?!

At the Moving Waves Academy we teach street dance, contemporary and ballet for kids and teens. Whilst everyone seems to know what ballet is all about (and fair enough, out of the three styles it does have the longest history!) we often receive a lot of questions from parents/carers about contemporary dance, and how does it differ from street dance. So, I’m here to break it down a little and explain what you can expect to find in each class.

Street Dance

Let’s start with street dance, as this is the first class that we introduced at our Academy back in 2015! (Fun fact, our Academy began with just five children; by the end of the first term we had 50 children and young people signed up! This was the seed for what is now a thriving performing arts Academy in Haringey).

Street dance is an umbrella term that encompasses a variety of social dances styles that were born outside the studio setting. Popping, locking and breaking are foundational styles under this umbrella; you’ll also find hip hop, waacking, krumping and tutting! The histories, cultures, and origins of street dance, and all the individual styles are fascinating. A wonderful way of learning and experiencing this is by simply taking part in class. Today we usually practice street dance in the studio, but it is rooted in African American culture from the 1960s onwards, where it began in the streets, school yards and clubs!

Street dance at our Academy is taught by Moving Waves Founder, Tina Euri, which is a real treat for the kids! Tina’s classes focus on building confidence, are fun and dynamic, and promote a strong dance foundation in freestyle, body coordination and choreography skills. In Tina’s street dance class you can expect to experience a fusion of freestyle and hip hop techniques. Tina is a professional actor and dancer with experience performing both on stage and for screen, including the London Olympic Games in 2012.

‍Contemporary Dance

Interestingly, contemporary is also an umbrella term! When students ask me “what is contemporary?” (and this happens a lot), I explain that contemporary is anything that is current and exists right now. Over the years, contemporary dance has evolved and developed, and now there is a huge history of styles and techniques that fall under this umbrella, that are all interconnected in some way, even if they look very different!

In a contemporary class you can expect a wonderful variety, perfectly structured so each element compliments the next. From technique to creativity; abstract to narrative; pedestrian to virtuosic; lyrical to dynamic; improvisation to choreography… a contemporary class can have it all. And because it reflects the now, you’ll see influences of other styles within this umbrella too! Notice the stretched feet and extensions reflective of ballet; the floor work from release-techniques; the isolations from modern and jazz; the complex footwork seen in hip hop; the undulations and contractions in African dance styles; the acrobatics from acro, gymnastics, cheer, and so on. Every teacher gives a unique and personal insight into the style too, depending on their history and training.

At our Haringey Academy, Eilidh teaches contemporary for ages 3-18 and she is an amazing teacher! Her classes are inclusive, packed with learnt choreography and creative tasks, through which students develop technical ability alongside feeding their curiosity and creativity. Eilidh is a London-based dance artist with an impressive portfolio of study and facilitation including Greenwich Dance, East London Dance, Move Dance Feel and BLOK.

The Music

In a street dance class, this will vary depending on the teacher, age of the participants, and style of routine. But you can expect to hear your current chart topping hits, pop culture classics, and oldies but goodies from hip hop, R&B, funk, soul, reggae and dancehall. In contemporary, expect to hear anything! From classical and orchestral, to the latest pop ballad for that lyrical number, to world folk music, to glitchy techno, and literally anything in-between!

The Practical Stuff

When you go to a street dance class you’re usually going to be asked to wear trainers or sneakers. Whereas in a contemporary class you’re most likely to be bare footed or in socks (depending on the floor or type of movement you’ll be doing). The attire for a contemporary class can vary, but generally us contemporary dancers go for layers: shorts or leggings paired with a leotard or crop top, covered in a t-shirt, sweatpants or long-sleeved top. This is again reflective of the diversity experienced within in a contemporary class. For example, if you’re doing lots of floor work, you’re going to want to cover up! This is a sneaky tip to help slide around the floor (and added bonus, helps avoid any unwanted floor burns!) But, if you’re demonstrating more technical exercises it’s much more beneficial for the teacher to see your alignment, so shedding the baggy clothes for something like a short/ legging is recommended. If you’re not sure what to go for it’s always best to just ask the teacher before the class.

Free Trials & Scholarships

At Moving Waves, we offer free trials for all new participants. If you’re still undecided about the right class for your child, get in touch and we’ll happily advise and suggest the best class to try for free. You can email us at info@movingwaves.org or contact Tina via 07500222099. We also offer two scholarships per term.

‍New Timetable

We are so excited about our updated timetable for September 2022! In addition to street dance and contemporary, we also have our usual favourites, ballet and acting, plus this term we are delighted to introduce… musical theatre!

Our Haringey classes take place at Chestnuts Community Centre, N15 in Haringey, Monday – Friday during term time. Sign up today ready for classes week commencing 12 September 2022.

Dance For Adults Too

Last but not least, if you’re a parent/carer reading this and thinking that you’d also like to give dance a go, fear not, as we’ve got you covered too! Every Monday 18.30-19.30 join Tina for Dance Fitness. It’s honestly so much fun!

Find Us on Social Media

For more information about us, to stay in the know, and to see some amazing snaps from our classes and annual shows, give us a follow on Instagram.