Famous Contemporary Dancers of All Time

Dancing is a beautiful way to express your feelings with beautiful expression and grace, and contemporary dance is the most suitable form of dance to express emotions. Contemporary dance merges different styles of dance, including ballet, jazz, and other forms, which originated in the mid-twentieth century. There are many famous contemporary dancers who have popularized contemporary dance worldwide through their unique choreography, and expressive performances.

Let’s explore the talent, innovative choreography, and journeys of several famous contemporary dancers who have inspired us for generations.

10 Famous Contemporary Dancers

1: Misty Copeland

Date of birth: September 10, 1982 in Missouri, U.S.

Best works:

• The Firebird (2012)
• Gulnare in Le Corsaire (2013)
• Swanilda in Coppélia (2014)

Awards:

• Dance Magazine Awards (2014)
• Shorty Award in 2016

Misty Copeland is an American ballet dancer and contemporary performer. In 2000, she joined the second ABT Studio Company and within a year, she became a member of the Corps de Ballet. She made history as the first African-American lady appointed as the principal dancer in the history of the ABT.

Copeland’s contributions to various dance styles and genres made her rich in the world of dance and celebrated among famous contemporary dancers. To honor her contributions, she was awarded a doctorate from the University of Hartford.

2: Akram Khan

Date of birth: July 29, 1974, London, England

Best works:

• Sacred Monsters with Sylvie Guillem
• Dust, for the English National Ballet (2014)
• Giselle at the Palace Theatre (2016)

Awards:

• The South Bank Show Award (2005)
• Laurence Olivier Award (2012)
• The Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards (2002)

Akram Khan is an English dancer, choreographer, and global icon who created a fusion of kathak and contemporary styles. Khan completed his education at De Montfort University and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

He established the Akram Khan Company alongside Farooq Chaudhry in 2000 and has since collaborated with various companies, artists, and choreographers including the National Ballet of China, actress Juliette Binoche, and Israel Galván.

Khan gathered acclaim for his creativity, accessibility, and relevance, making him a leading popular dancer and ranked among the most famous contemporary dancers in the world.

3: Martha Graham

Date of birth: May 11, 1894, Pennsylvania, U.S

Died: April 1, 1991, New York, U.S.

Best works:

• Appalachian Spring (1944)
• Frontier (1935)
• Revolt (1927)

Awards:

• Kennedy Center Honors (1979)
• Presidential Medal Of Freedom (1976)
• Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award (1990)

Martha Graham was an American dancer whose dancing styles and choreography are still alive among the famous contemporary dancers worldwide. She established the Martha Graham Center for Contemporary Dance and Martha Graham School, the oldest dance school in the U.S. since 1926.

Graham was the first dancer to perform in the White House. She has been referred to as the “Picasso of Dance” because of her contribution to dance and modern visual arts. Her choreography continues to captivate aspiring dancers and artists, influencing them to adopt her dancing techniques.

4: Alvin Ailey

Date of birth: January 5, 1931, Texas, U.S.

Died: December 1, 1989, New York, U.S.

Best works:

• Revelations (1960)
• Masekela Language (1969)
• Love Songs (1972)

Awards:

• Kennedy Center Honor (1989)
• Presidential Medal of Freedom (2014)

Alvin Ailey was an American dancer who had an iconic vision for choreographing dance styles. He was also an activist who fought for the rights of black people, as he was labeled ‘Black Choreographer’ which he didn’t appreciate.

Ailey established the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958, and the company made its debut at the 92nd Street YM-YWHA.

Ailey performs in various genres, including theater, jazz, ballet, and black vernacular, which are inspired by African culture. Thus, he and his team are also referred to as the ‘Cultural Ambassadors to the World.’

5: Pina Bausch

Date of birth: July 27, 1940, Solingen, Germany

Died: June 30, 2009, Wuppertal, Germany

Best works:

• Im Wind der Zeit (1968)
• Aktionen für Tänzer (1971)
• Café Müller (1978)

Awards:

• Laurence Olivier Award (2006)
• Europe Theatre Prize (1999)
• Goethe Prize (2008)

Pina Bausch was a talented German dancer and choreographer who left an indelible mark on viewers and secured a place as one of the most famous contemporary dancers.

She became the artistic director of the Opernhaus Wuppertal, where many new dance pieces were produced. Later, the company was renamed “Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch” in honor of Pina Bausch.

Bausch’s work and style influenced other artists, including David Bowie, Florence & The Machine, an English Indie rock band, and many others. She set a standard in the world of contemporary dance and continues to inspire many artists and captivate audiences worldwide.

6: Crystal Pite

Date of birth: December 15, 1970, British Columbia, Canada

Best works:

• Betroffenheit (2015)
• The Tempest Replica (2011)
• The You Show (2010)

Awards:

• Isadora Award (2005)
• Laurence Olivier Award (2017)
• Critics’ Circle National Dance Award (2016)

Crystal Pite is a Canadian choreographer and famous contemporary dancer. She began her professional career in 1988 and has left a significant impact worldwide through her dancing skills and innovative approach to choreography.

In 2002, she formed Kidd Pivot, a permanent resident dance company of the German theater Künstlerhaus Mousonturm.

Pite’s choreography includes both contemporary and neo-classical dance styles. She choreographed works for many companies, including Nederlands Dans Theatre I and The Paris Opera Ballet.

7: Merce Cunningham

Date of birth: April 16, 1919, Washington, U.S

Died: July 26, 2009, Manhattan, New York City

Best works:

• Sixteen Dances for Soloist and Company of Three (1951)
• Field Dances (1963)
• Suite by Chance (1953)

Awards:

• Dance Magazine Award (1960)
• BITEF (Belgrade International Theatre Festival) Award (1972)

Merce Cunningham was an American dancer, teacher, and choreographer recognized as one of the most influential contemporary dancers worldwide.

Merce Cunningham, along with his Dance Company, collaborated with numerous artists from various fields such as visual arts, architecture, design, and music. One of the most significant collaborations was with John Cage, who was also Cunningham’s life partner.

In 2005, he received an honorary doctorate of human letters from the University of Minnesota.

To preserve Cunningham’s works and contribution to contemporary dance, the Cunningham Dance Foundation developed the Legacy Plan (LLP) in 2009 in his honor.

8: Twyla Tharp

Date of birth: July 1, 1941, Indiana, U.S.

Best works:

• The Fugue (1970)
• Deuce Coupe (1973)
• Push Comes to Shove (1976)

Awards:

• Tony Award for Best Choreography (2003)
• Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Choreography (2003)
• Primetime Emmy Award (1985)

Twyla Tharp is an American dancer and choreographer who lives in New York City. She is one of the prominent and amazing dancers known for her work in classical music, jazz, and contemporary pop music.

Tharp founded the Twyla Tharp Dance Academy. She choreographed and created many dance pieces for ballet groups, including the Paris Opera Ballet, the Royal Ballet, the New York City Ballet, and many more.

In 2018, Tharp received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Harvard University. Her exceptional talent and dedication to her work have made her one of the most famous contemporary dancers in the world.

9: Isadora Duncan

Date of birth: May 26, 1877, California, U.S

Died: September 14, 1927, Nice, France

Best works:

• The Three Graces (1918)
• The Mother (1921)
• The Revolutionary (1922)

Isadora Duncan was an American dancer, choreographer, teacher, revolutionary, and innovator. Her talent and captivating performances inspired author Aleister Crowley to write about her dancing technique in his 1929 books, Confessions and Moonchild.

Duncan’s is titled “The Mother of Dance,” and her legacy has been passed from generation to generation. She is and always will be renowned among the most famous contemporary dancers in the history of dance for her technique and choreography.

10: Katherine Dunham

Date of birth: June 22, 1909, Illinois, U.S.

Died: May 21, 2006, New York, U.S.

Best works:

• A Cabin in the Sky (1940)
• L’Ag’Ya (1938)
• Stormy Weather (1943)

Awards:

• Heritage Award (1971)
• Albert Schweitzer Music Award (1979)
• Kennedy Center Honors (1983)

Katherine Dunham was a legendary dancer, choreographer, activist, and anthropologist. She founded Ballets Nègres at the age of 21 in 1931 in the U.S. She is regarded as the matriarch and “Queen Mother” of black dance.

Dunham’s career flourished in the 20th century with many dance performances showcasing the black culture on the stage.