Contemporary ballet is a genre of dance that incorporates elements of classical ballet and modern dance. It employs classical ballet technique and in many cases classical pointe technique as well, but allows a greater range of movement of the upper body and is not constrained to the rigorously defined body lines and forms found in traditional, classical ballet. Many of its attributes come from the ideas and innovations of 20th-century modern dance, including floor work and turn-in of the legs. The style also contains many movements emphasizing the body's flexibility.
A contemporary ballet leap
George Balanchine, a contemporary ballet pioneer
A contemporary ballet dancer
Classical ballet is any of the traditional, formal styles of ballet that exclusively employ classical ballet technique. It is known for its aesthetics and rigorous technique, its flowing, precise movements, and its ethereal qualities.
Painting of ballet dancers by Edgar Degas, 1872
Marius Ivanovich Petipa, February 14, 1898
Dancers performing Swan Lake
Marie Taglioni, a pioneer of pointe work