Exploring the World of Dance

5 Types of Dance

There are hundreds of different types of dance. For simplicity, we can break it down into 5 categories: ballet; modern or contemporary dance; hip-hop; Latin, ballroom and social dance and the various world dance traditions.

Developed at the start of the 20th century, contemporary dance allows for more freedom of movement and expression. It focuses more on the torso and is less structured than other forms of dance.

1. Ballet

Ballet is a highly disciplined and classical form of dance that has captivated audiences for centuries. Its evocative music, graceful movements and stunning visual aesthetics create impact.

Ballet requires the body to be in perfect alignment, which strengthens muscles and prevents muscular imbalances that can lead to injury. A dancer must also be completely mentally present to remember each step, concentrate on the placement of every part of the body and “feel” the music to improve musicality.

Ballet originated as a theatrical art form in the 15th and 16th centuries with Italian nobility organizing elaborate pageants of mythological or allegorical themes. In the 17th century, the French court established an authorized academy under King Louis XIV (known as the Sun King). This was a crucial development that created ballet as we know it today.

2. Tap

Unlike ballet, which developed in dance academies, tap was largely learned through street and dance hall challenges and competitions where steps were shared, stolen, and reinvented. The result is a style of percussive dancing that combines jazz rhythms, polyrhythm, and multiple meters.

Rhythm tap incorporates intricate footwork and emphasizes musicality and improvisation. Its focus on articulation and rhythmic precision can enhance a dancer’s ability to excel in other genres, such as ballet and contemporary.

Black comedy tap fuses upper-body shapes of jazz dance and spatial forms from modern dance into a physically robust style that blends jokes, knockabout acrobatics, grassroots characterizations, and rambunctious translations of vernacular dance.

3. Salsa

Salsa is an incredibly versatile style of dance that can be used to create impact in any social environment. It is also a great way to meet new people and have some fun!

While salsa has many different styles, the basic steps are the same. There are holds on the four and eight counts, and both men and women lead with their left foot.

The most common type of salsa is the New York style, which features smooth and controlled movements. This style is often referred to as dancing ‘On 2’ and it has its origins in cross body leads and multiple spins. Incorporating styling techniques has become popular in salsa, with men and women using shimmies, leg work, arm work and body movement to add to the style.

4. Swing

Swing is a large group of dances that developed to accompany jazz music in the 1920’s through 1940’s. As the era and popular music styles changed, hundreds of swing dances emerged, but only a few have survived through time.

Lindy Hop is a popular style of swing that features 6- and 8-count patterns and fast, bouncy movement. It is a melting pot of dance styles with Charleston, blues, and solo jazz influences. Acrobatic tosses and throws are often highlights of performance and competition dancing.

Jitterbug is a similar style of swing that originated from Harlem. It is also known as East Coast Swing and features a rock step back with 6- and 8-count patterns.

5. Hustle

Hustle emerged from the disco era of the 1970’s and is a fun, rhythmic dance that has found a home in both social and competitive dancing. It is a fast dance that is fun, sexy and smooth. John Travolta’s movie “Saturday Night Fever” helped to popularize it.

Today it is mostly danced to contemporary pop dance music in either a slotted or rotational pattern. It is also possible to travel on the floor using traveling patterns.

Hustle is a dance for the club and party music, usually with a high tempo but it can also be enjoyed on slower tempos like Lounge and R&B music.

Hip Hop

Hip hop is a culture and art movement that originated in the Bronx borough of New York City in the 1970s. It consists of four foundational elements: DJing/turntablism, MCing/rapping, B-boying/breaking and visual/graffiti art.

Breaking is an energetic dance style that is often done to hip hop music. This dance is characterized by a number of different moves including popping, locking and krumping.

Recreational dancing is any type of dance that is done for pleasure or enjoyment, without a set goal in mind. This type of dance is often used for exercise or to socialize with friends. It is also referred to as social dancing or party dance.

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