Contemporary Dance

Here are some of the terms that reviewers have used to describe contemporary or post-modern dance productions:

"High-flying fusion of athletics and art."

"Explosive and satisfying."

"Hard-edged, high-energy."

"Ingenious and daring."

"An unabashedly sexy combination of dance, gymnastics and performance art."

"Erotic and intense."

It's kind of how you wish your sex life could be.

We're talking about men and women who are buff to the extreme, choreographed in ways that are so uplifting and heart-thumping we honestly don't know how to describe it. When it's done right—and who knows what right is—you will be thankful that you decided to get tickets for this instead of staying at home or watching some soulless new movie with $70 million in special effects.

COST

Tickets for these sorts of productions usually aren't cheap. Expect to pay between $20 and $50 or more for each of you, plus parking and refreshments and/or dinner.

RESOURCES

Here are the websites of some of the companies, productions and magazines that fall into this unusual category of dance. Also be sure to check out the live theaters at any nearby college or university. Some, like UCLA's Royce Hall, have a well-earned reputation for booking the absolute best in non-traditional dance productions.

You want action? Consider Stomp, at www.stomponline.com.

Want to see what happens when twenty of Romania's top gymnasts are choreographed by some of America's top dancers? "Jawdropping" is a good way of describing Aeros, at www.aeros.org.

Want visceral impact? Try www.pilobolus.com.

Need daring physicality, rhythm, humor, sex, and a tribute to the amazing grace of the human body? Go to www.momix.com.

For masks and movement, try www.mummenschanz.com/.

To learn more about dance genres and styles, visit the website at www.palatine.org.uk/directory/index.php/Dance/.

For an incredible list of contemporary and modern dance companies, try www.dancer.com/dance-links/modern.htm.

To view an Ezine about dance, go to www.danceonline.com.

There's a full listing of post-modern and modern dance troupes at http://dir.yahoo.com/Arts/Performing_Arts/Dance/Modern/ Modern_Companies/