Always changing and ever-evolving, contemporary dance techniques encourage and reward creative freedom and artistic expression.

The ISTD Contemporary Syllabus is a movement system that enables learners to develop and acquire advanced understanding of contemporary dance technique, choreography, creative and compositional skills. Over the three levels of Intermediate Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced 1, the syllabus provides students with a progressive and in-depth exploration of movement qualities and patterns typical of contemporary dance – falling and recovering, spiralling, contracting and releasing, leaning and tilting – whilst encouraging learners to discover and develop their own individuality in the technical and artistic execution of the syllabus work.

Each level provides a variety of floor, standing, travelling and jumping sequences, from simple exercises to more sophisticated and complex ones. Each level also features a solo choreographed by industry professionals, and structured improvisation tasks which enable students to explore, develop, and create their own movement vocabulary.