After being hired as a dancer and then ballet master at Ballet Russe by Sergei Diaghilev, George Balanchine is known for pioneering the dance technique of contemporary ballet. From his unique elongated movement aesthetic to his work, Agon, that kickstarted the contemporizing of ballet, Balanchine redefined this form by making dance and movement the emphasis of the performance, rather than depending on an elaborate plot or storyline. Contemporary ballet is separate from contemporary dance, for it remains deeply rooted in the ballet aesthetic, while contemporary dance is not. How has Balanchine’s work in contemporary ballet inspired the work of future ballet choreographers? Are there similarities between Balanchine’s work and current contemporary ballet artists such as William Forsyth and Wayne McGregor? I was interested in analyzing the development of movement aesthetics and trends throughout the brief history of this form. Through comparative viewing of videos of contemporary ballet works, one can notice trends and steps that have withstood the test of time, and what areas of the technique and movement have evolved. It is important to see the trajectory of choreographic trends stemming from Balanchine, and to see how the definition of contemporary ballet has changed drastically as time has progressed. With contemporary dance holding upmost popularity today, one can notice traditional ballet steps appearing in contemporary ballet works less and less, while the work still maintains its ballet validity through its aesthetics. In the spring of 2025, this research will be used as a foundation to create a twenty-minute work on ten or more dance students at Slippery Rock University and will be rooted in the contemporary ballet aesthetic. I envision the movement of the piece contemporizing as time progresses to represent the technique’s modernization from the time of Balanchine to today.