Dance is not just technique or a set of movements; it is expression, culture, and history. In 2025, the desire to join traditional forms with innovation gives fresh impetus to choreography and performance. Nicole Evans, a professional dancer and choreographer from London, shares her thoughts on how modern dance directions develop classical techniques and what this means for the stage and audiences.
— Nicole, how do you see the fusion of classical and modern dance styles today?
— When I look at the stage, I see how organically the classics blend with modernity. We don’t abandon foundations: ballet, contemporary, and jazz remain key pillars for many styles. But dancers now expand the movement palette, borrow from street styles, use acrobatics and new technologies to tell their story.
— Which modern directions do you find most important or promising?
— Neo-fusion is in demand — a hybrid of styles allowing for deep individual expression. Ecological dance, addressing nature and sustainability through movement, is very interesting. Interactive formats using augmented reality and digital elements also make performances more immersive and emotionally rich.
— Your creative work deeply involves classical technique. What role does it play in modern dance?
— Classical technique is the base; without it, innovation is impossible. It’s the foundation of discipline, movement, and body awareness. Yet classical dance itself evolves, absorbing modern influences, becoming more dynamic, adapting to new ideas. This harmony between past and future inspires my own works.
— How have dancer requirements changed given new trends?
— Dancers today must be multidisciplinary: mastering classics, improvising, working with digital tech, even engaging audiences live. Flexibility of mind and body is the main challenge but also a huge opportunity.
— How do you see the future of choreography and stage movement?
— The future belongs to bold experimentation. We will see more synergy between physical technique and technology, new forms of expression and interaction. The human element — what makes dance alive and sincere — will remain essential.
— What advice do you have for young dancers and choreographers aiming to be at dance’s forefront?
— Learn traditions but don’t fear breaking boundaries. Find your own sensations and voice in movement. Stay open to new ideas and tech but keep love for the body and dance’s essence.
Nicole Evans’s interview shows contemporary dance as a delicate balance between classics and innovation, physics and emotion. Dance traditions stay at the heart of the art, while new technologies and trends flow into creativity, opening the stage to fresh stories and experiences.