Contemporary Indian Dance has a relatively short history.  Uday Shankar, who was born in the early years of the 20th century, is widely accepted as the Father of Modern Dance in India. This great dancer had a very wide vision, and he appreciated the wonderful variety and scope of expression afforded by the different classical and folk dances extant in the country. He incorporated different dance styles, such as Bharatanatyam and Kathakali into his choreographic productions. Often martial arts such as Kalaraipayattu of Kerala and Chhau of eastern India are incorporated into dance choreography, lending greater vigour and variety to the artistic expression.

 Contemporary Indian Dance doesn't have a fixed definition; it varies according to the perception of each different dancer. It is also not codified in a detailed way, as are the classical styles. It can also be termed as Modern Indian Dance or a Creative / Innovative sort of dance.

 Contemporary dance can be used by some choreographers as a medium to depict themes like environment, youth and women's issues and other modern themes which are not a part of their classical repertoire. Yet other choreographers have chosen the contemporary approach to explore the primary impulses of the human body. They may also use some of the lexicon of classical dance Hastas (hand gestures) to interpret lyrics in a western language or dance on western music. Some others are incorporating multi-media techniques and elaborate stagecraft to convey their message.
Collaborative efforts like dance and puppetry or dance and fine art also leads to innovative choreography.
Uday Shankar presented traditional themes in a modern way. He believed there were no limits to dance.

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