Towards a greater appreciation of contemporary dance by young people

Contemporary dance needs to pull in a bigger younger audience. However in order to appreciate this medium cognitive processes are needed of a high aesthetic level. These are processes only partially developed in young teenagers and even adults, according to aesthetic developmental theorists. Gardner’s multiple intelligence theory suggests some of these types of intelligence may be useful for the appreciation of contemporary dance. Parental background and aesthetic education also affect cultural participation. The appropriate use of learning theories can contribute towards creating good educational programmes for dance. Changes in lifestyle may also be affecting attendance to contemporary dance performances, raising questions as to whether and how contemporary dance needs to adapt to the tastes of younger people. Finally some examples of projects aimed at young people are analysed.