Why are today's modern dance choreographers returning to ballet technique and choreography?

You really cannot have modern dance technique without ballet technique. Modern dance came into being because of ballet and ballet technique. The first modern dancers in the early 1900's were rebelling against ballet and the rigid technique. Ballet uses turnout and a "locked " frame. Modern dance uses parallel positions, freedom of movement, esp spirals in the upper body. Modern dance has continued to evolve over time and is being stylistically catagorized with different names such as contemporary, jazz, classical jazz or modern jazz. It's a natural progression to encorporate ballet techniques into modern dance. it's all related really.

Why are today's modern dance choreographers returning to ballet technique and choreography?pacific theater

Ballet is the substance of all dance. Including contemperary. Bascially it's ballet on crack. I love my contemperary. Like the person above said, you can't have contepmerary clases with out ballet backgound.

Why are today's modern dance choreographers returning to ballet technique and choreography?phantom of the opera opera theater

They always have. Martha Grahm used to make her modern dancers take ballet! It is inspirational for a lot of people and virtually every style has its roots in ballet in some form of another. Ballet helps you learn so many things, especially about balance.
Because you have to learn the technique before you can break free from it.