https://www.thoughtco.

com/folk-dance-overview-1006565

Folk dance is a form of dance developed by a group of people that reflects the traditional life of a
certain country or region. Folk dancing represents the dance forms of the common people as
opposed to those from the upper classes.

Folk dances may emerge spontaneously among groups of people or derive from previous styles.
The style can be free-form or rigidly structures. Once established, folk dance steps are passed
down through generations and rarely change. Usually associated with social activities, some
dances are also performed competitively, and in some regions, folk dancing is even involved in
cultural education.

North America

A few famous folk dances from North America include contra dancing, square dancing and
clogging, in addition to the dances of Native Americans. In contra dancing, lines of couples
follow the instructions of a caller who chooses from between six and 12 short dance sequences.
The dance goes for 64 beats while the dancers make their moves and change partners as they
progress down the line. Like contra dancing, square dancing has couples dancing to the
instructions of a caller, but with square dancing, four couples begin the dance facing one another
in a square. Clogging is most well known through the Appalachian region and is the official state
dance of North Carolina and Kentucky. Team clogging routines are intensely choreographed.

Native American folk dances are linked more to religious and cultural rituals than other social
dances of North America. Intertribal dancing associations were common. Types of dances
include the Fancy Dance, the War Dance, the Hoop Dance, the Gourd Dance, and the Stomp
Dance. Often associated with celebrations, marriages and birthdays were marked by dances
involving nearly everyone in the tribes. Dances also celebrated the harvest and hunts.

Latin America

As might be expected, folk dance in Latin America derives from the region's Spanish roots,
although African influence manifests itself as well. Many of Latin America's traditional dances
came from the fandango and the seguidilla, highly popular 18th-century forms. In these couple
dances, partners were arranged in scattered formation on the dance floor, often an outdoor
patio, but the partners never touched. The dances required about 2 feet of distance between
them. Eye contact, however, was encouraged. Latin American folk dances can be highly
structured while allowing room for dancers to improvise.

Asia

The list of folk dances associated with Asian countries is long indeed, befitting the continent's
rich history and diversity of cultures. India is known for its Bhangra, Garba and Baladi dances. In
China, steps are underway to preserve the history of traditional Chinese folk dances as ethnic
minorities become smaller and cultural forms are lost. As with China, Russian folk dances stem
from the multitude of ethnicities in the vast country. Many people think of the knee bending and
foot stomping that is characteristic of Eastern Slavic dance styles, but other dance traditions
have also emerged among the Turkic, Uralic, Mongolic and Caucasian peoples.

Africa

Perhaps on no other continent is dance as integral to the culture as it is in Africa. Dances can
involve a method of education, teaching morals and etiquette, as well as welcoming or
celebrating members of the community. Among the myriad examples, one interesting folk dance
from Africa is Eskista, a traditional Ethiopian dance for both men and women. The dance focuses
on rolling the shoulder blades, bouncing the shoulders and contracting the chest. Because of its
technical nature, Eskista is considered one of the most complex traditional dance forms in that
nation.

Europe

Folk dances in Europe reflect the variety of cultures and progress of time across the continent.
Many folk dances predate the existence of the nations as their lines are drawn today. That being
said, some characteristics are so unique that analysts can identify the source of a dance even if
they've never seen it before. One example is a particular type of German/Austrian dance that
involves the dancers slapping the soles of their shoes with their hands. Historians date elements
of the dance, the Schuhplattler, back as much as 5,000 years, with the first record of it being in
1030
pular music, such as jazz, much of which was based on the ideas of black musicians in the USA.
Since dance is to a large extent tied to music, this led to a burst of newly invented dances. There
were many dance crazes in the period 1910–1930.

Vernon and Irene Castle, early ballroom dance pioneers, c. 1910-1918.

The third event was a concerted effort to transform some of the dance crazes into dances which
could be taught to a wider dance public in the USA and Europe. Here Vernon and Irene Castle
were important, and so was a generation of English dancers in the 1920s, including Josephine
Bradley and Victor Silvester. These professionals analysed, codified, published and taught a
number of standard dances. It was essential, if popular dance was to flourish, for dancers to
have some basic movements they could confidently perform with any partner they might meet.
Here the huge Arthur Murray organisation in America, and the dance societies in England, such
as the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, were highly influential. Finally, much of this
happened during and after a period of World War, and the effect of such a conflict in dissolving
older social customs was considerable.[1][4]

Later, in the 1930s, the on-screen dance pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers influenced all
forms of dance in the USA and elsewhere. Although both actors had separate careers, their
filmed dance sequences together, which included portrayals of the Castles, have reached iconic
status.[5] Much of Astaire and Rogers' work portrayed social dancing, although the
performances were highly choreographed (often by Astaire or Hermes Pan), and meticulously
staged and rehearsed.[6]

Competitive dancing

Competitions, sometimes referred to as DanceSport, range from world championships, regulated

by the World Dance Council (WDC), to less advanced dancers at various proficiency levels. Most
competitions are divided into professional and amateur, though in the USA pro-am competitions
typically accompany professional competitions.[7] The International Olympic Committee now
recognizes competitive ballroom dance.[8] It has recognized another body, the International
DanceSport Federation (IDSF), as the sole representative body for dancesport in the Olympic
Games. However, it seems doubtful that dance will be included in the Olympic Games, especially
in light of efforts to reduce the number of participating sports.

Ballroom dance competitions are regulated by each country in its own way. There are about 30
countries which compete regularly in international competitions. There are another 20 or so
countries which have membership of the WDC and/or the IDSF, but whose dancers rarely appear
in international competitions.[9] In Britain there is the British Dance Council, which grants
national and regional championship titles, such as the British Ballroom Championships, the
British Sequence Championships and the United Kingdom Championships. In the United States,
amateur dance proficiency levels are defined by USA Dance (formerly United States Amateur
Ballroom Dance Association, USABDA).

Ballroom dancing competitions in the former USSR also included the Soviet Ballroom dances, or
Soviet Programme. Australian New Vogue is danced both competitively and socially. In
competition there are 15 recognised New Vogue dances, which are performed by the
competitors in sequence. These dance forms are not recognised internationally, neither are the
US variations such as American Smooth, and Rhythm. Such variations in dance and competition
methods are attempts to meets perceived needs in the local market-place.

Internationally, the Blackpool Dance Festival, hosted annually at Blackpool, England, is

considered the most prestigious event a dancesport competitor can attend.

Formation dance is another style of competitive dance recognised by the IDSF. In this style,
multiple dancers (usually in couples and typically up to 16 dancers at one time) compete on the
same team, moving in and out of various formations while dancing.

[edit] Elements of competition

Intermediate level international style Latin dancing at the 2006 MIT ballroom dance competition.
A judge stands in the foreground.

In competition ballroom, dancers are judged by diverse criteria such as poise, the hold or frame,
posture, musicality and expression, timing, body alignment and shape, floor craft, foot and leg
action, and presentation.[10] Judging in a performance-oriented sport is inevitably subjective in
nature, and controversy and complaints by competitors over judging placements are not
uncommon. The scorekeepers—called scrutineers—will tally the total number recalls
accumulated by each couple through each round until the finals, when the Skating system is
used to place each couple by ordinals, typically 1-6, though the number of couples in the final
may vary.

[edit] Medal tests

Medal examinations for amateurs enable dancers' individual abilities to be recognized according
to conventional standards. In medal exams, which are run by bodies such as the Imperial Society
of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), each dancer performs two or more dances in a certain genre in
front of a judge. Genres such as Modern Ballroom or Latin are the most popular. Societies such
as the ISTD also offer medal tests on other dance styles (such as Country & Western, Rock 'n Roll
or Tap). In some North American examinations, levels include Newcomer, Bronze, Silver, Gold
and Championship; each level may be further subdivided into either two or four separate
sections.

Dances

"Ballroom dance" refers most often to the ten dances of International Ballroom (or Standard)
and International Latin, though the term is also often used interchangeably with the five
International Ballroom dances.[11] Sequence dancing, which is danced predominantly in the
United Kingdom, is also sometimes included as a type of Ballroom dancing.

In the United States and Canada, the American Style (American Smooth and American Rhythm)
also exists. The dance technique used for both International and American styles is similar, but
International Ballroom allows only closed dance positions, whereas American Smooth allows
closed, open and separated dance movements. In addition, different sets of dance figures are
usually taught for the two styles. International Latin and American Rhythm have different styling,
and have different dance figures in their respective syllabi.

Others dances sometimes placed under the umbrella "ballroom dance" include Nightclub
Dances such as Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Nightclub Two Step, Hustle, Salsa, and Merengue.
The categorization of dances as "ballroom dances" has always been fluid, with new dances or
folk dances being added to or removed from the ballroom repertoire from time to time, so no
list of subcategories or dances is any more than a description of current practices. There are
other dances historically accepted as ballroom dances, and are revived via the Vintage dance
movement.

In Europe, Latin Swing dances include Argentine Tango, Mambo, Lindy Hop, Swing Boogie
(sometimes also known as Nostalgic Boogie), and Disco Fox. One example of this is the
subcategory of Cajun dances that originated in New Orleans, with branches reaching both coasts
of the United States.
Ballroom/Smooth dances are normally danced to Western music (often from the mid-twentieth
century), and couples dance counter-clockwise around a rectangular floor following the line of
dance. In competitions, competitors are costumed as would be appropriate for a white tie affair,
with full gowns for the ladies and bow tie and tail coats for the men; though in American Smooth
it is now conventional for the men to abandon the tailsuit in favor of shorter tuxedos, vests, and
other creative outfits.

Latin/Rhythm dances are commonly danced to contemporary Latin American music, and, with
the exception of a few traveling dances (for example,, Samba and Paso Doble), couples do not
follow the line of dance but perform their routines more or less in one spot. In competitions, the
women are often dressed in short-skirted latin outfits while the men are outfitted in tight-fitting
shirts and pants, the goal being to emphasize the dancers' leg action and body movements.

References

^ a b Franks A.H. 1963. Social dance: a short history. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London.

^ Silvester, Victor 1980. Old Time and sequence dancing. Barrie and Jenkins, London.

^ a b c Silvester, Victor 1993. Modern Ballroom Dancing. Tralfalgar Square, London.

^ Richardson P.J S. 1948. The history of English ballroom dancing (1900–1945). London: Jenkins

^ "History of Musical Film, by John Kenrick". Musicals101.com. 1996.

http://www.musicals101.com/1930film3.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-29.

^ "Review of "Swing Time" (1936)". rogerebert.com. 1998-02-15.

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?
AID=/19980215/REVIEWS08/401010363/1023. Retrieved 2008-05-29.

^ USDC

^ Certificate of Olympic recognition of IDSF

^ Complete listings of affiliations are given in the programmes of the major competitions.

^ "What Judges Look For". Archived from the original on 2007-02-05.

http://web.archive.org/web/20070205105054/http://www.dancesportireland.org/idsf_news/ju
dging.html. Retrieved 2006-12-22.

^ "History of Modern Ballroom Dancing". http://linus.socs.uts.edu.au/

%7Edon/pubs/modern.html. Retrieved 2007-02-20..

^ "IDSF Competition Rules 2008 Rule 5.12". http://www.fedansa.org/documents/rules/IDSF

%20COMPETITION%20RULES.pdf. Retrieved 2009-02-22..

https://www.danceshoesstore.com/Ballroom-Dance-and-History_ep_54-1.html

1. Ballet Dancing

Tutus, pointe shoes and men in tights are what instantly what come to mind when someone
speaks of ballet. It is so much more than that. Said to be the most difficult genre to master, ballet
is also the core of all dance. Usually set to orchestrated music (but is not limited too), ballet is a
poised style of dance and is the basis of many other forms. Ballet is often the first dance style a
child will experience as they begin their dance training. Ballet shoes are worn until the dancers
feet have developed enough strength to progress into pointe shoes. This is often around the age
of 12 and only after the students have been given permission by their teacher. Ballet is an
excellent teaching tool for all dancers as it is a complex mixture of technique, coordination and
musicality.

young tap dancer

2. Tap Dancing

Tap is best described as "musical feet". Tap is a form of dance where dancers use their feet as
percussive instruments. They wear shoes specially designed with metal plates on the toe and
heel. These are called taps, labeling the shoes as Tap Shoes. There are many different styles of
tapping however the two most noted are Rhythm Tap and Broadway Tap. Rhythm Tap is more
musically driven, where as Broadway Tap is more dance and movement oriented. Tap is great for
fostering rhythm in dancers.

Jazz dancer

3. Jazz

Jazz is the most popular style of dance amongst dancers. Jazz embodies many aspects of dance.
It has been influenced by ballet, modern, tap, hip-hop, African dance and many more styles. Jazz
pulls from all dance styles mixing them together to create a high energy style that knows no
boundaries. Jazz is most often set to up beat popular songs of the time. Jazz shoes are worn for
this style and are typically a leather split sole allowing the dancers foot more freedom to bend
and move. Due to the upbeat music, power packed moves and limitless style, it isn’t hard to see
why this is the most popular dance style!

modern dancer

4. Modern Dance

Modern was said to be developed as a rebellion against classical ballet. Since then it has come
into its own. Built on concepts of rawness, modern dance focuses on the dancers strong
relationship with the floor, concepts of contraction & release and the connectivity of breath
and , movement. Modern can be performed in bare feet, or with a half-sole type of shoe that
will allow a great amount of freedom in the foot while providing protection from the floor. Dance
Paws, FootUndeez, and half sole Twylas are some of the most popular styles worn in modern.
Though developed out of the distaste for classical ballet, modern and ballet are closely linked in
the complexity of technique, coordination and musicality.

lyrical dancer

5. Lyrical

The basis of lyrical is ballet but also encompasses both jazz and modern. It is expressive,
simultaneously subtle and dynamic. It focuses on conveying musicality and emotion through
movement. It is usually set to popular songs and is based around feelings and emotions. Lyrical is
often danced wearing Twyla’s, Dance Paws, FootUndeez or bare feet. Though proper dance
techniques are important, the true heart of lyrical is found in its expressive nature.

hip hop dancer handstand

6. Hip Hop

Hip Hop is an urban dance style also known as Street Dance. Hip Hop is edgy, raw and intense.
Hip Hop is mostly danced to hip hop, urban, and rap music. What sets Hip Hop apart from most
dance genres is that it is often freestyle in nature and does not follow a vocabulary. Hip Hop is a
stylf of dance that is open to personal expression. Hip Hop is the founder of popping, locking and
crumping. High top sneakers, funky bright sneakers, and traditinal Hip Hop shoes are worn.

contemporary dance

7. Contemporary
Contemporary dance embodies ballet, modern, jazz and lyrical. It uses technique such as ballet
as its fundamentals and creates many more greater movements that do not adhere to the strict
rules of ballet and modern. There are different categories of contemporary dance such as
Contemporary Ballet and Contemporary Jazz. Contemporary dance is often danced to all types of
music and in bare feet with non-traditional costumes.

highland dancer

8. Highland Dancing

Highland dance was developed in the Gaelic Highlands of Scotland and should not be confused
with Scottish Country Dancing. Highland dancing requires a lot of stamina , as well as arm and
leg strength. Many people may compare Scottish highland dance to Irish dance but, Irish dance is
progressive and Highland dancing is traditional. Ballet shoes may be worn on younger dancers,
however the traditional Ghillies are often requested. The eyelets found on Highland shoes are
flat with metal rings.

young line dancer

9. Line Dancing

Line Dancing is a social dance that is made up of a sequence of steps that is repeated. Line
dancing is associated with country-western music and dance. Line dancing is a solo dance that is
danced in a straight line, a circle or in a “follow the leader” pattern. Footwear is decided by the
dancer and is if often cowboy boots for the men and heels for the women. Many women choose
to wear a Cuban heel shoe as it offers great support and is the perfect heel height for any age!

irish dance shoes

10. Irish Dancing

Irish dancing originated from Ireland and can be divided into performance and social dances.
Made famous by Riverdance it is best recognized by its rapid leg and foot movements while the
body and arms are kept largely stationary. Irish soft shoes and hard shoes are worn. They type of
shoe is dependant on the style of Irish dance. Irish dancers are also known for their bold-colour,
and intricately detailed dance costumes.

https://www.inspirationsdancewear.com/blogs/dance-news/the-top-10-types-of-dance

Humans have been dancing to express themselves since the dawn of time, and from those
earliest gatherings spring the many types of dance we know today. Some, like folk dancing, have
roots that go back centuries; other styles, like hip-hop, are decidedly modern. Each form has its
own style, but all of them are united by their common goal of artistic expression and the
celebration of the human body. Discover more about 12 of the most popular dance types.

Ballet

Ballet dancers.

Cedric Ribeiro / Getty Image

Ballet originated in the 15th century, first in Italy and then in France. Over the centuries, ballet
has influenced many other styles of dance and become a fine art form in its own right. There are
three basic styles:

Classical: This form reached its peak in 19th-century France and Russia. It is often story-driven
and orchestrated ("The Nutcracker" is a great example), with fantastical sets and costumes. The
movement emphasizes pointe work (dancing on toes), graceful expressions, and symmetry
among dancers.

Neoclassical: This is an evolution of classical ballet, which emerged in the early to mid-20th
century. Movements are faster and more urgent, with less emphasis on symmetry, and simple
sets and costumes. The plot is often nonexistent. Orchestras, bands, or soloists may accompany
the dancers.

Contemporary: Like neoclassical, the plot is cast aside in favor of pure movement and physical
expression, which may not appear to be dancelike at all. Costumes and set designs are
frequently simple or abstract. Music or sound work, if used, is often contemporary or
experimental in nature.

Jazz Dancing

Dance type jazz.

Stockbyte / Getty Images

Jazz is a lively dance style that relies heavily on originality and improvisation. This style often
uses bold, dramatic body movements, including body isolations and contractions. Jazz dance has
its roots in African traditions kept alive by slaves brought to the U.S. Over time, this evolved into
a style of street dance that soon moved into the jazz clubs of the early 20th century.
During the big-band era of the 1930s and early '40s, swing dancing and the Lindy Hop became
popular expressions of jazz dancing. In the mid- to late 20th century, choreographers like
Katherine Dunham incorporated these improvisational, physical expressions into their own
works.

Tap Dance

Two men tap dancing on stage.

Bettmann / Contributor / Getty Images

Like jazz dancing, tap evolved from the African dance traditions preserved by slaves in the U.S. In
this exciting dance form, dancers wear special shoes equipped with metal taps. Tap dancers use
their feet like drums to create rhythmic patterns and timely beats. Music is rarely used.

After the Civil War, tap evolved into a popular form of entertainment on the Vaudeville circuit,
and later a staple of early Hollywood musicals. Some of the most notable masters of tap include
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Gregory Hines, and Savion Glover.

Hip-Hop Dance

Man hip-hop dancing in a crowd.

Ryan McVay / Getty Images

Another descendant of jazz dance, hip-hop emerged from the streets of New York in the 1970s
in the city's African-American and Puerto Rican communities at the same time as rap and DJing.
Breakdancing—with its popping, locking, and athletic floor movements—is perhaps the earliest
form of hip-hop dance. Often, "crews" of teams of dancers would hold competitions to see
which group had bragging rights as the best.

As rap music flourished and diversified, different styles of hip-hop dancing emerged. Krumping
and clowning took the physical exuberance of breakdancing and added narrative and comic
expression in the '90s. In the 2000s, jerkin' and juking became popular; both of these take the
pop-lock movement of classic breakdancing and add wild fashions.
Modern Dance

A group of people performing modern dance.

Leo Mason Split Second / Corbis via Getty Images

Modern dance is a dance style that rejects many of the strict rules of classical ballet, focusing
instead on the expression of inner feelings. It emerged in Europe and the U.S. in the early 20th
century as a rebellion against classical ballet, emphasizing creativity in choreography and
performance.

Choreographers including Isadora Duncan, Martha Graham, and Merce Cunningham developed
intricate methodologies for their dances, often emphasizing wild or extreme physical expressions
performed to avant-garde or experimental musical accompaniment. These choreographers also
collaborated with artists working in other fields such as lighting, projection, sound, or sculpture.

Swing Dancing

People swing dancing in restaurant.

Keystone Features / Hulton Archive / Getty Images

Swing dance is yet another offshoot of traditional jazz dance that became popular as swing
bands became the dominant form of popular entertainment in the late 1930s and early '40s.
Unlike other forms of jazz dance that emphasize the individual, swing dance is all about
partnership. Athletic couples swing, spin, and jump together in syncopated time to the beat of
the band, usually with a fixed number of choreographed steps repeated in a specific sequence.

Contra Dance

Large group of people contra dancing in gym.

Jeffrey Bary / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Contra dance is a form of American folk dance in which the dancers form two parallel lines and
perform a sequence of dance movements with different partners down the length of the line. It
has its roots in similar folk dances from colonial-era Great Britain. Although contra dancing is
partner-based, it's a communal arrangement; you don't need to bring your own partner, because
you'll be dancing with everyone down the line at some point. Dancers are led by a caller, who
calls out specific steps and directions to change partners. Folk music from the British Isles or the
U.S. is the most common form of accompaniment.

Country and Western

People doing a country music dance.

kali9 / Getty Images

Country and western dance is a broad category of many dance styles, incorporating influences
from contra, folk, and even jazz, set to country or western-themed dance music. Waltzes and
two-steps are the most common forms of partner-style dancing, but you'll also find variations on
polkas and other folk dances brought to the U.S. by German and Czech immigrants. Square
dances and line dances, where people dance in tight, choreographed movements with a number
of partners or as part of a group, have their roots in contra dancing. Clog dancing, a form of
footwork-heavy dance rooted in the jigs of Britain and Ireland, is most frequently associated with
bluegrass music.

Belly Dancing

Woman performing belly dance on stage in park.

Vittorio Zunino Celotto / Getty Images

Belly dancing emerged from the folk traditions of the Middle East, but its precise origins are
unclear. Unlike most forms of Western dancing, which emphasize complex footwork and partner
choreography, belly dancing is a solo performance that focuses on the torso and hips. Dancers
combine a series of fluid movements to emphasize rhythm, isolated flourishes like hip twists for
percussive punctuation, and shimmies, spins, and torso vibrations to add variety and detail.

Flamenco

Flamenco Dancers.

Alex Segre / Contributor / Getty Images

Flamenco dance is an expressive dance form that mixes percussive footwork with intricate hand,
arm, and body movements. It emerged from the cultures of the Iberian Peninsula in the 1700s
and 1800s, though its precise origins are unclear.
Flamenco consists of three elements: cante (the song), baile (the dance), and guitarra (guitar
playing). Each has its own traditions, but the dancing is most often closely associated with
flamenco, with its flamboyant gestures and rhythmic foot stamping that calls to mind tap
dancing.

Latin Dance

People performing Latin Dance on stage.

Leo Mason / Corbis / Getty Images

Latin dance is a broad term for any number of ballroom and street-style dance forms that
evolved in the 19th and 20th centuries in the Spanish-speaking Western Hemisphere. These
styles have roots in European, African, and indigenous dance and ritual.

Many styles of Latin dance have their origins in a specific region or country. Tango, with its
sensual, close partnerships, originated in Argentina. Salsa, with its hip-swaying beat, evolved in
the Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Cuban communities of 1970s New York City.

Other popular forms of Latin dance include Mambo, which originated in 1930s Cuba; bomba, a
folk-style of rhythmic dance from Puerto Rico; and meringue, a Dominican style of close partner
dancing with tight hip movements.

Folk Dance

Group of people performing folk dance during even.

Guang Niu / Getty Images

Folk dance is a generic term that can refer to a variety of dances developed by groups or
communities, as opposed to being made up by a choreographer. These forms often evolve over
generations and are learned informally, usually at communal gatherings where the dances are
performed. Music and costuming often reflect the same ethnic traditions of the dancers.
Examples of folk dances include the rigid uniformity of Irish line dancing and the call-and-
response interplay of a square dance.
https://www.thoughtco.com/types-of-dance-1007456

he genre of House music and house dance became born in New York and Chicago clubs. Built on
top of subtler rhythms, riffs of the music and influences of jazz, Latin, soul, funk, R&B, and many
other music styles, this social dance quickly found its way into homes and clubs across the entire
world.

Punk dance - Born as an extension of 1960s garage rock, the punk rock managed to attract fans
who enjoyed not traditional social dances of before, but more energetic and sometimes violent
dance style of moshing (sometimes called slam-dancing) and headbanging. This dance styles
were characterized by the strong and full body contact of live band audience, with frequent
bumping and jostling both alone and in groups.

Rave dance - Fueled by the unending focus on pulsating beats, loud volume and psychedelic
music effects, dancers of rave music are free to create their freestyle of movements, with no
rules about dance routines or synchronized moves, usually in dark and crowded venues of dance
clubs, nightclubs, and festivals. Dancers are encouraged to find inspiration in music, other
people, and their mood.

Disco dance - The popular disco music genre of the 1970s would not found such popularity if it
was not so easy to dance with. Fans of this music often wore extravagant and sexy clothing while
dancing free form or structured versions of various disco dances, such as Bump, (several
variations of) Hustle, Robot, Boogaloo, Watergate, and others.

Bollywood dance - The cultural history of India and the rest of southern Asia would not remain
the same without the strong influence of Bollywood movie industry which has promoted Hindi
dance music to the world. Created as the mix of traditional Indian music, Hindi dance traditions
of the Indian sub-continent, and Middle-Eastern techniques, Bollywood dance is characterized
by elaborate choreographies, energetic movements, and dances that involve a large number of
participants.

Hip-hop & Funk dance

Dancing style of Hip-Hop evolved from the music style that was first introduced during 1970s.
Powered by the great popularity, exposure in media, movies and television programs, hip-hop
dances found a great foothold in United States, France, United Kingdom and South Korea. A very
similar style called Funk was also created during 1970s, and is today regarded as one of the most
influential pieces of Hip-hop dance styles.
Breakdance (Breaking) - One of the most athletic dances in the world, Breakdance, have
originally found its popularity in the 1970s as the street dance in the New York’s Bronx. Since
then it has spread all around the world where it was viewed as one of the most unique dance
styles ever made. Usually danced solo, this dance requires talented dancers to perform the
series of either choreographed or freeform dance and athletic movements alongside usually
breakbeat, hip-hop or funk music.

Bounce - Born in the 1980s as a mix of New Orleans hip-hop music and the traditions of the
Mardi Gras Indian chants, Bounce dance can today be danced both in its common and
hypersexual form. Since it is so closely connected with the traditions of the Mardi Gras culture,
many forms of Bounce today remain to be highly regional and can rarely be seen dancing outside
of the music scenes of New Orleans, Miami, Baltimore, and other music hubs.

Electric boogaloo - Funk style of hip-hop was popularized not only by its music but also by the
worldwide acceptance of the famous dance style called Electric Boogaloo, which was originally
promoted in the 1970s by the dance group of the same name. Danced both by individuals and
groups in both free form and choreographed manner, Electric Boogaloo is filled with the wide
variety of moves that focused on the movement of legs, hips, knees and frequent use of
exaggerated robotic-like moves.

Street Jazz - Created with the influences of African American slaves, Jazz dance gained popularity
in the early 20th century as any form of dance that was performed alongside then new Jazz
music. Highly improvisational and freeform, Jazz dance quickly morphed into a performance
dance that emulated elements of ballet. Today, Jazz dance is enjoyed in many forms which are
collectively called “modern jazz dance”.

Jookin' - Jookin’ or so-called “gangsta waling” style of dance is a street dance that originated
quite recently in the 1990s on the streets of Memphis, Tennessee. The dance is characterized by
the movement set that tries to emulate the “bounce” in the core beat of the crunk music that
often accompanies this dance style. Even though this dance has found some popularity
worldwide, it is still a regional dance that can rarely be seen outside of the city of Memphis.

Locking - Funk dance is incredibly diverse, and one of its famous variations is “locking”. The core
gimmick of this style of hip-hop dance is to suddenly stop and hold the position (or get locked) in
the middle of dance routines for a short while, and then suddenly resume the dance. It requires
full body motion, but most of the dance is focused on top half of the body. Many Locking
dancers prefer to use various acrobatic and physically demanding moves to augment their dance
routines.

Popping - Very close in style with popular Electric Boogaloo, Popping is another variation of the
funk-themed street dance from the 1960s and 1970s that found popularity all around the world.
The technique that dancers need to master to properly dance Popping is controlled and quick
contrasting and relaxing of muscles that will create the feeling of a jerk throughout the body.
This jerk is referred as “pop” or “hit” and can be used to augment dance routines, movements
and possess.

http://www.dancefacts.net/dance-types/types-of-dances

History of Social Dance

By Gray Miller

couple dancing

You can trace the history of social dance back as far as primitive cultures dancing to celebrate a
birth or mourn a death. In later years, social dance continued to develop and evolve, mingling
the dances of other cultures such as the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

The Development of Ballroom Social Dance

The early social dances of the fourteenth to mid-sixteenth centuries involved processional
dances with subtle, relatively simple steps. The dances usually involved couples interacting with
each other, or long lines of dancers. The dances were lively, filled with flirtations, conversations,
and even "poaching," where partners would switch in the middle of the dance. Groups such as
the Society for Creative Anachronism still enjoy these dances at their gatherings.

Related Articles

Ballroom Dance Steps

Swing Dance History

History of Latin Dance

The Rage of the Seventeenth Century: The Waltz

The popularity of this dance has lasted for centuries, and it is still one of the first dances taught
by ballroom teachers. It began in Vienna, where, by focusing on the graceful movements of the
couple instead of large group patterns, the Waltz set people free from the restricted movements
and set poses of the earlier courtly dances. However, it also was considered "...riotous and
indecent" well into the 19th century, which only proved to make it even more popular. You can
still see the Waltz performed in social dance halls today.
Social Dances of the Late Eighteenth Century

In England and the United States the late eighteenth century witnessed a beginning of a blend
between the rigid group dances and the intense coupled dances like the Waltz. Called "contra
dances," "cotillions" or just "square dances," the lively music would include "calling," as the
moves were announced just before they happened. The flirting and partner-swapping made
these amazingly social happenings, and they survived into the modern day, both in their original
form and in country line dances and hip-hop such as "Unk 2 Step."

The Many Dance Forms of the Nineteenth Century

During the early part of the nineteenth century, group dances remained extremely popular. The
English Country Dance grew more popular throughout the first half of the nineteenth century. In
addition to the Waltz, there were many other popular dances of the period, including:

Scottish Reel and the Quadrille

Polka

Pavan

Mazurka

Polonaise

Two Step, referred to as the Washington Post

https://dance.lovetoknow.com/History_of_Social_Dance