My dissertation investigates the relationship between contemporary dance practices and performances in the San Francisco Bay Area and the political and cultural geography that shapes the region. Specifically, I examine both movement practices and training techniques that inform the aesthetic production and the ideology of the city's dance scene, as well as the culture and politics of various social issues that manifest in dance content and performance practices. Through a consideration of key choreographers, spaces for training and performance, and thematic trends in Bay Area physical practices, this research emphasizes the political geography of dance's development specifically as it relates to Anna Halprin's lingering influence manifested in contemporary choreography. With its progressive political landscape and investments in counter-culture, the San Francisco Bay Area offers a counterpoint to dance history narratives that continue to emphasize New York City as the birthplace of dance in modern America. Just as the geographic area fosters a progressive politics of social issues, the dance produced in the region provides a lens into ideology, aesthetics, social and political engagements, training, and performance practices. In this dissertation, I situate these within theoretical discourses on embodiment, political action, queer and feminist theories, and cultural studies.