We are Not ‘So You Think You Can Dance’

(Though we are impressed by those crazy, more-than-human dance feats)

Project: Motion recently had an identity crisis. While some dance companies might go out and buy a hot new car, get a face lift, or date a younger man, Project: Motion decided to take a more mature approach. That’s right–we edited our mission statement.

The problem (well, it’s not necessarily a problem) is that there are a lot of dance-y television shows these days: Dancing with the Stars, America’s Best Dance Crew, So You Think You Can Dance. These shows are great for bringing dance to a wider audience, and for us wider audiences mean more ticket sales, so we aren’t complaining. However, the general public might get confused about the difference between what Project: Motion does and what happens on any one of the above-mentioned dance shows.

Project: Motion has been called a “contemporary” dance company, a “modern” dance company, and also, on occasion, “a group of dancers rolling around on the floor.” We don’t claim the last definition (although admittedly at times it does appear to be accurate), but the first two both kind of apply to what we do. The two words are often used interchangeably, and Project: Motion could technically be described by either. But, for the sake of clarity, we have decided to brand ourselves as a “modern” dance company, as opposed to a “contemporary” dance company.

Modern, which was originally created as a rebellion against the structure of classical ballet, is more than 100 years old. It has several different techniques and forms, and varies from the dramatic Martha Graham style to the edgy, quirky style of Twyla Tharp. Contemporary, on the other hand (or foot!), is considered an off-shoot of modern dance, and often includes more obvious traces of ballet, jazz, and other dance styles.
We are a purely modern dance company. And it’s official now…our new mission statement says so.

What are your thoughts on the differences between modern and contemporary? How would YOU define Project: Motion? Leave your thoughts as a comment below.

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