What is the Release Technique?

A family of postmodern training approaches that minimize unnecessary muscular effort, using breath, imagery, and skeletal alignment to move efficiently and fluidly; often paired with contact improvisation.

Where did the Release Technique originate?

The Release Technique originated in United States / Europe in the 1970s.

What time signature is the Release Technique danced in?

The Release Technique is danced in Set by accompaniment (varies).

What tempo is the Release Technique danced at?

The Release Technique is typically danced at Varies.

What is the character of the Release Technique?

The Release Technique is characterized as efficient, fluid, grounded.

Dance History›Contemporary Dance›Release Technique

Come to the Water - Dew Dance - Trailer - High Wycombe 12 November 2025 · Dew Dance UK

Contemporary DanceCON-REL

Release Technique

Also known as: Release-based technique

OriginUnited States / Europe

Era1970–Present

RhythmSet by accompaniment (varies)

TempoVaries

CharacterEfficient, fluid, grounded

Origin: United States / Europe
Era: 1970–Present
Rhythm: Set by accompaniment (varies)
Tempo: Varies
Character: Efficient, fluid, grounded

History & Cultural Context

Release technique names a group of approaches that developed from the 1960s–1970s postmodern dance milieu, emphasizing the release of unnecessary tension and the use of breath, gravity, momentum, and anatomical alignment to move with efficiency and ease. It is frequently taught alongside contact improvisation and floorwork and underlies much of today's contemporary movement vocabulary.

Cultural Significance

Release-based training reflects the postmodern shift toward everyday movement, weight-sharing, and individual movement signature.

Characteristic Movement & Technique

Minimal effort, breath and imagery cues, momentum and weight through the skeleton, fluid floorwork; weight-sharing in contact improvisation.

Dance Lineage

Evolved from:Cunningham Technique

Release Technique Music & Tempo

Drawn from 15 Release Technique tracks in the LODance music library.

Example tracks at practice tempo

Funky Percussive in 4 120bpm 2m14 — Audiophiliacuk120 BPM
Contemp Slow African 1 (68 BPM) — Audiophiliacuk68 BPM
Gamelan In 6 (173 BPM) — Audiophiliacuk173 BPM
Contemporary Warm Up With Intro (96 BPM) — Audiophiliacuk96 BPM
PH Percussive Groove (97 BPM) — Audiophiliacuk97 BPM
Contemp Slow African 2 (72 BPM) — Audiophiliacuk72 BPM

Browse & play all 15 Release Techniquetracks in the Music Library →

Legends of Release Technique

Dancers, choreographers and teachers whose work shaped this style.

Joan SkinnerLegend of DancePioneered · Originated Skinner Releasing Technique

Release Technique in performance

One staged work in the Limelight catalogue contains Release Technique.

Flight Pattern2017
Ballet · Crystal Pite
Throughout the ensemble and duet choreography — A loose, released torso and grounded, weight-driven movement quality are used across the piece, explicitly noted as departing from classical ballet placement. Source: "The choreography incorporates a loose tor…

Every claim above is quoted from a cited source and names where in the work the style appears. Claims we could not place or could not quote are held back from this list and shown on the work’s own page instead. Browse the full performance catalogue →

Sources & Further Reading

Cultural & Historical Context

Release Technique emerged from United States / Europe during the 1970s—present day. Understanding the cultural roots, musical traditions, and social circumstances of this era enriches appreciation for the dance's characteristics and significance.

Primary Source Documents

The Library of Dance contains public-domain primary sources for dance history. Copyrighted modern syllabi are indexed with purchase links to their respective copyright owners. Search by dance name or codifier to discover primary source documents.

Last reviewed: September 2026 — This dance profile synthesizes historical research, cultural documentation, and contemporary practice knowledge to provide authoritative context.

More in Contemporary Dance

Graham Technique

Martha Graham's foundational modern-dance technique built on 'contraction and release' and movement initiated from the breath and torso.

Cunningham Technique

Merce Cunningham's postmodern technique emphasizing clarity of spine and legs, multidirectional use of space, chance procedures, and the independence of dance from music.

Limón Technique

José Limón's technique, extending Doris Humphrey's 'fall and recovery,' centered on weight, gravity, breath, and the momentum of falling, rebounding, and suspension.

Forsythe Improvisation Technologies

William Forsythe's contemporary-ballet approach from the 1980s, extending and deconstructing classical line through work on lines, angles, points, and the full range of motion.

Gaga Movement Language

A movement language and daily research practice developed by Ohad Naharin at Batsheva Dance Company, built on sensation, imagery and continuous movement rather than fixed positions or a graded vocabulary. It is taught in two streams, one for people with no dance background and one for professional dancers, and it works on availability, efficiency and range rather than on shapes an observer could name. Its influence on contemporary dance since the 2000s is out of proportion to its size, because it changed how many dancers train rather than what they perform.