Contemporary dance is a genre of dance that developed during the mid-twentieth century and has since grown to become one of the dominant genres for formally trained dancers throughout the world, with particularly strong popularity in the U.S. and Europe.

Although originally informed by and borrowing from classical, modern and jazz styles, it has come to incorporate elements from many styles of dance.  Due to its technical similarities, it is often perceived to be closely related to modern dance, ballet, and other classical dance styles.

In terms of the focus of its technique, contemporary dance tends to combine the strong but controlled legwork of ballet with modern that stresses on torso. It also uses contract-release, floor work, fall and recovery, and improvisation characteristics of modern dance.

Unpredictable changes in rhythm, speed, and direction are often used, as well.

Additionally, contemporary dance sometimes incorporates elements of non-western dance cultures, such as elements from African dance including bent knees, or movements from the Japanese contemporary dance.