What's Next for Contemporary Dance? Jaci Royal Sounds Off

Jaci Royal,
a
rtistic director of Royal Flux Dance

Creatively speaking, contemporary dance has no boundaries. When choreographing, I can let my imagination run wild. It’s liberating to create with no rules or restrictions. That said, ballet and jazz are crucial components in a contemporary dancer’s training. You have to understand that foundation before you can build on it; you have to crawl before you walk.

I understand why people follow trends, because there’s a pressure to stay current in the contemporary world. But I believe you can stay current while thinking outside the box. It can be as simple as taking a popular move and thinking of a different way to get into or out of it.

It’s hard to say what might come next. Technology is developing at such a rapid pace that I’m guessing we’ll start to see more of it in art. It’s already happening. In fact, some artists are worried technology will completely take over, leading to the death of dance. I don’t think that’s likely. I think technology will enhance what we do.