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Contemporary Dance: Prepare for your first class in the best way

By Bernhard De LucaUpdated

In a nutshell
  • The first class in Contemporary Dance focuses on feeling your own body through simple swinging movements and playing with balance.
  • The typical session is divided into a gentle warm-up on the floor, simple step combinations across the room, and a short, easy-to-follow choreography at the end.
  • Expensive equipment is not necessary, as comfortable sportswear and clean socks or bare feet are perfectly sufficient for your first training session.
  • Adult beginners do not need any prior dance experience or special flexibility, as every movement is adapted to your own fitness level.

The first step into a new dance studio takes courage, but it rewards you with a completely new sense of body awareness. With the right mindset and good preparation, your very first class will become a liberating experience.

What you need for your first class

  • Comfortable sportswear without annoying zippers
  • A pair of clean socks for better gliding on the floor
  • A bottle of still water for breaks in between
  • Openness to free, unfamiliar forms of movement

The contemporary approach for adult beginners

Starting contemporary dance is fundamentally different from classical dance styles like ballet or ballroom. Contemporary dance is not about rigidly achieving predetermined, perfect poses, but about the natural flow of movement, playing with your own body weight, and the conscious expression of emotions. Many adults hesitate because they believe they are not flexible or athletic enough. But this is exactly where the philosophy of the style begins: every movement is developed from your individual anatomy. You do not need any prior knowledge to discover the dynamics of gravity, momentum, and space for yourself. A solid orientation is provided in advance by our guide Learning contemporary dance as an adult: Your easy start, which shows you why this style is suitable for every age and every body.

What to expect in your first contemporary class

  1. Arrive in the room and focus

    Find a spot in the room where you have enough freedom of movement on all sides. Take a moment to arrive at the studio, take a deep breath, and consciously leave your everyday life behind you.

  2. Join in the joint-friendly warm-up

    The training begins with a gentle warm-up, often while sitting or lying on the floor. Here, you mobilize your spine, wake up your joints, and feel your body's connection to the surface.

  3. Testing weight shifts and swings

    In the main part, you will learn how to shift your weight from one foot to the other in a controlled manner and use the floor as a partner. You will feel how swings help you get into motion without using much force.

  4. Learn your first short combination

    The instructor demonstrates a short, simple sequence of steps that is repeated slowly several times. Focus on the rhythm and the flow of the movement here, rather than trying to copy every pose perfectly.

  5. Relax with a cool-down

    The class ends with a calm cool-down, where your pulse slows down and the muscles you used are gently stretched. Use these minutes to thank your body for the work it has done.

Properly prepared for the dance studio

How to get started

  • Wear long sports pants to protect your knees on the floor
  • Accept mistakes as a valuable part of the learning process
  • Dance barefoot or in simple socks with a good feel
  • Trust your own body and respect your limits

What you should avoid

  • Wearing tight or stiff material like jeans in class
  • Comparing yourself immediately to advanced dancers
  • Trying to train in heavy indoor sneakers
  • Forcing yourself into painful stretching positions

Your checklist for a relaxed start with udansa

The day before

Preparation

Shortly before the course starts

Arrival

After the class

Follow-up

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. For your first class, comfortable, stretchy sportswear like leggings and a T-shirt is perfectly fine. Long trousers will protect your knees from friction during your first simple floor work movements.

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