Dance forms

12 Different Types of Dance from All over the World

People have been using different dance styles to communicate their thoughts with others. From the earliest social events, countless different types of dance have been introduced. Few prefer the traditional folk dance, and others like the modern hip-hop dance. 

Every kind of dance has its aesthetic, but eventually, all dance types have the same goal of expressing themselves. Dance has become an essential part of every culture. There are many types of dance played out all around the world. This article will dive deep into understanding the 12 different types of dance worldwide. 

What Is the Significance of Dance Around the World? 

Dance has forever been a piece of human history. From ceremonies to festivities, it has become an astounding artistic expression. It helps to make our bodies active and feel joy once again. Dance is a speech that is conveyed without utilizing words. It’s a method for putting yourself out there through non-verbal correspondence. 

The message is depicted through stances, facial expressions, and posture. This makes every type of dance a genuinely all-inclusive work of art that is utilised to tell stories and thoughts. It tears down language hindrances and entryways for correspondence across many different cultures. 

On a personal side, dancing is done in both a friendly and competitive manner. People learn to dance by themselves or with their partners. Dancing has no age restrictions, so the first step is to take membership from a dance class or sign up for an online dance class. Once that is completed, the only thing left is to practise and improve. 

Types of Dance from around the world

Each culture across the world owns its own dance form. They reflect their culture, traditions, dressing, music and more. Here are different types of dance forms from across the world.

Ballet 

Throughout history, ballet dance has impacted numerous different dance styles and turned into an artistic work structure by its own doing. Underneath referenced are the various types of ballet dance:

Classical: The first kind is the classical type of ballet dance. It is, much of the time, story-driven and orchestrated. Classical ballet dance focuses mainly on toes, smooth articulations as well as balance with other dance partners. 

Neoclassical: Neoclassical ballet is the improvised version of classical ballet. It is a ballet dance class type with quicker movements and simple outfits. Bands may join in with the dance partners.

Contemporary:  Like neoclassical, the plot is thrown away for authentic expressions and movements. The contemporary may not seem dancelike at all. In this ballet style, the attires are primarily abstract. 

Ballet dance changes between utilising elaborate attires and organising and using fewer costumes and bare staging. The Bournville, Cecchetti, Vaganova, the French School, Balanchine, and the Royal Academy of Dance are the six highly recognized methods used in ballet dance. 

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Ballet dance

Jazz Dance

Jazz dancing is another type of dance. It’s a joyful dance that depends intensely on freshness and fabrication. This style of dance frequently utilises intense striking body motions. It includes body contractions and isolations. Over the long run, this developed into a street dance style that quickly became a part of Jazz clubs. 

JAZZ

Tap Dance 

The next type of dance is the Tap dance. Tap dancers utilise special shoes with taps made from metal. The beats with rhythmic patterns are created when dancers utilise their feet with the help of their metal tap shoes. Melodies are rarely used. This type of dance has become popular all over the world. 

There are different dance class types in Tap dancing. They are Broadway tap and Rhythm tap. Broadway only aims at the dance which is mainly used in musical theatres. The Rhythm method only pays attention to the music. 

Tap dance is primarily performed in a musical theatre. This type of dance mainly focuses on formations and choreography due to more than one dancer performing on the stage. 

Known as a percussive dance style, tap artists always aim to accomplish a fresh and hollow sound to highlight their performance. That is why tap dancers require a unique floor to achieve optimal performance. 

Hip-Hop Dance 

Hip-hop is one of the most popular types of dance in the modern world. It consists of breakdancing with high-intensity floor movements. It’s likely the oldest type of dance. The rise and prosperity of the music industry introduced various hip-hop dance styles. Today, hip-hop is pulled off in dance studios and outdoor spaces. 

A popular style called Funk was likewise made during the 70s era. In today’s world, it is considered one of the most inspiring Hip-Hop dance styles

hip hop dance

Modern Dance 

The next type of dance is the Modern Dance. It combines different dance class types to exhibit expression rather than postures. It is a style that denies strict guidelines of traditional expressive dance. The extreme or wild expression is used for musical performances, or it can be for experimental purposes. 

The main objective of modern dance is to depend on the partner’s music interpretation skills and understanding of the movements. Contemporary dance was conceived out of aversion to the limits of traditional dance.

Everyone around the world currently likes to enjoy this type of dance. Dancers can do ballets without any strict guidelines to follow. Any music can be utilised and using non-traditional movements to depict a story or convey feelings to others. 

Swing Dance 

In the 30s and 40s, Swing dance became famous as swing bands became the predominant type of well-known amusement. This type of dance mainly depends on partners. Athletic couples swing, jump, and spin in synchronisation. Swing dance consists of repeated moves in a sequence.

Many styles of swing dance were created. While most started in African-American people groups, some swing-period eras were the Balboa made outside these communities.

swing dance

Contra Dance 

Contra dance is a type of dance in which the participants do a sequence of motions with several accomplices according to the length of the two structured lines of equal length. This dance isn’t viewed as a partner-based but instead communal arrangement dance. All the dancers are guided by an instructor known as the caller. Callers help in pointing out directions and steps when changing partners. 

Western and Country Dance

Western and Country dance uses a vast category of many dance styles. It incorporates many other types such as Jazz, Folk, Contra, and many more. Waltzes, two-steps, Square, and line dances are the most common. Clog dancing is another form of footwork that has British and Ireland roots. This type of dance is accompanied chiefly by Bluegrass music. 

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Belly Dance

Belly dance is a solo performance solely based on the hips and the torso where a mix a series of adaptable movements create a rhythm. Infact, Belly dance is a type of dance that accompanies different dance class types.

It includes Turkish, Persian, Tribal, Cabaret, and many more. Movements like hip twists, spins, and torso vibrations add details and more emphasis to it. The raqs sharqi is a belly dance that grew in the 1900s. It took the elements of other styles, such as Latin, ballet, and marching bands. It became popular in the 1960s in the US. 

belly dance

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Flamenco Dance

Flamenco dance is a type of dance that blends footwork with body motions. Flamenco comprises three components, i.e. the song, dance, and the guitar. Each accompanies its own culture. When it comes to the dance part, it is mainly linked to flamenco. This dance style accompanies flamboyant performances with foot stamping in rhythms. 

Latin Dance 

Latin dance is a vast term used for ballroom and street-style dance. The Latin dance style has different dance class types, such as ritual, African, European, and native dance. Every Latin style has its roots in a specific country or region. Every single kind has its uniqueness and beauty to admire. 

Mambo is the most popular upbeat dance that appeared in Cuba. In the 50s, the Mambo form shook the world. It became so popular that it was substituted with rumba in the US and labelled the most lively dance type. 

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Classical Dances

Classical dances have a history of thousands of years in any civilization. They stand as a symbol of ancient rituals, practices and values. For instance, Indian classical dances hold a reputation on a global diaspora. India is a home for classical dances such as Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathakali, Odissi, Manipuri with each holding its reputation of their own. Classical dances are an innate part of Indian culture.

Bharatanatyam_Mudra_25

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Folk Dance 

Folk dance can be defined as the types of dance that groups or communities create without needing a choreographer. They have evolved and been passed on to the next generation for decades. Individuals learn it through communal gatherings where the dance is performed. Different types of attire mean it signifies a particular set of cultures. Some examples include the square dance and the Irish Line dancing. 

A few notable folk dance types include Hula, and Samba. Some traditions include more than one variation in the dance. For example, South Korea has different dances for war victories, music, farming, and religion. 

The folk dance usually is organized at public events. It doesn’t matter if the individual is a pro or a beginner. Anyone can participate in the dance. To improvise the cultural experience, traditional music is utilised. 

folk dance

Conclusion

Those mentioned above are the 12 different types of dance from all over the world. There are many places where people learn to dance. It can be at social venues, dance schools, or even in your own home. Dancing is a famous method for getting fit, and dance-based classes are currently accessible in many fitness clubs and exercise centres.