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| | | 1.4) Dances
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| | | | a) Ballet
| (top) | | | | | Ballet is a theatrical dance that focuses on combining a formal academic technique with music, costumes, and scenery. The dance involves highly controlled and dramatic movements that can be performed as a solo or in an ensemble. Ballet is often learned and danced for the purpose of performing on stage. Because the dance emphasizes a wide range of movement, taking ballet classes will help you develop flexbility, improve your physique, and develop control over your body. Mastering the art of ballet involves a lot of training, good physique and good physical health. |
| | | | b) Ballroom
| (top) | | | | | Ballroom dance is a style of partner dance which originated in the Western world and is now enjoyed both socially and competitively around the globe. Its performance and entertainment aspects are also widely enjoyed on stage, in film, and on television.
There are many different styles of ballroom dancing. The 3 main groupings are: American, International, and Latin; each grouping has its own set of dances. Make sure you check the class details or check with the school to see which dances they are teaching.
All of the different dances in ballroom dancing have their own style of music and range of movement. Taking a Latin ballroom class, for example, would expose to you a variety of styles and music at the same time.
The common dances associated with each style are as follows:
Standard dances: Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, Quickstep
Latin dances: Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Paso Doble, Jive
American: Cha Cha, Rumba, East Coast Swing, Bolero, Mambo
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| | | | c) Belly Dancing
| (top) | | | | | Belly dance is a Western name coined for a style of dance developed in the Middle East and other Arabic-influenced areas. It is usually danced solo and involves movements from the entire body. It is often danced as a performance for an audience, although, certain movements can always be used in any social environment.
Most of the basic steps and techniques used in bellydance are circular motions isolated in one part of the body ie; a circle parallel to the floor isolated in the hips or shoulders. Accents using "pop and lock" where a dancer either shimmies or makes a striking motion in her shoulders or hips are common, as are feats of flexibility, rolling one's stomach muscles, balancing various props like baskets, swords, or canes, and dancing with chiffon or silk veils. The dance is mainly for women but male belly dancers are becoming more commonplace.
Dancing is a good cardio-vascular workout and helps increase both flexibility and strength, focusing on the torso or "core muscles." Many belly dance styles emphasize muscular "isolations", which teach the ability to move various muscles independently. |
| | | | d) Flamenco
| (top) | | | | | Flamenco is a form of song, dance, and instrumental (mostly guitar) music commonly associated with the Gypsies of southern Spain.
Flamenco is generally danced solo and is characterized by colorful costumes, intense and erotic movements, stamping of the feet ( zapateado ), and clapping of the hands ( palmada ); its execution is brilliant, noisy, and passionate. |
| | | | e) Latin Nightclub: Merengue/Bachata
| (top) | | | | | Merengue
Merengue is a lively social dance that originated in the Dominican Republic in the 1700s. It is often danced in partners but can also be danced solo. The dance is accentuated by exaggerated movements of the hip to every beat of the music. It is often danced in a circular rotation and can be accompanied by some intricate turn patterns. Merengue is danced to Merengue music, which is often played in Latin and non-Latin nightclubs. Performances and competitions in Merengue dancing are not all that common.
Bachata
Bachata is a close and romantic partner dance that emerged in the 1960s from the Dominican Republic. Bachata, like Merengue is often played in Latin nightclubs and is primarily a social dance with sensual hip and body movements. Although competitions and performances in Bachata dancing are popular in the Dominican Republic, they are relatively uncommon in North America. |
| | | | f) Line Dancing
| (top) | | | | | Line dance involves a group of people dancing in a formation executing the exact same moves individually. The dance is usually led by an experienced dancer or instructor with the entire group following the instructor’s moves. Line dancing does not require a partner but it does require a dancer to learn and memorize the sequence of moves to stay in sync with the rest of the group. Line dancing is primarily a social group dance; it may offer some performance opportunities but its focus lies in the social aspect of the dance.
Country/Western
Country/Western dance incorporates many different styles of dance that can all be danced to Country/Western music. Country/Western can be split into two main categories: partner dances and group dances. Partner dances include Promenade Dance and Waltz (different from Ballroom Waltz), to name a few. Group dances are mainly categorized by line dances and square dances.
Competition and performance opportunities are available for both partner and group Country/Western dances. |
| | | | g) Popular: Hip Hop/Breakdancing
| (top) | | | | | Hip Hop dancing and Breakdancing are street dance styles that have their origins in the hip hop movement in New York in the early 1970s. The dance can be either performed standing (toprock) with a lot of footwork or on the ground (downrock) with a lot of floorwork. The dance is often associated with high energy, precise movements, and athleticism. Many nightclubs play music that allows hip hop dancers to practice their moves. In addition to that, the hip hop culture also offers many avenues for performances and competitions. |
| | | | h) Popular: Jazz
| (top) | | | | | Since the early 1950s, Jazz dance is a form of dance that is commonly used in Broadway shows and theatres. The style of dance is smooth and modern and has strong roots in basic ballet techniques. The key elements of the dance follow the same elements of the music: syncopation, individual style, and improvisation. Modern dance follows much of the same technique as jazz but is not as structured in its methods.
Jazz dance moves are dramatic and exaggerated, and place emphasis on flexibility and extension. The dance is expressed as much through physical movement as it is through attitude. It is mainly a solo or group dance that combines interpretive movement to music. It is in essence, a performance art; there aren't many social avenues or nightclubs for jazz dancers to practice their moves. |
| | | | i) Popular: Modern
| (top) | | | | | Modern dance developed in the early 1900s in the United States and Germany as a theatrical dance alternative to the rigid structure of classical ballet. Modern dance places a lot of emphasis on personal feeling, emotional expression, and lyrical movement. The dance is very experimental and improvisational by nature and is not limited to strict technique like classical ballet. Modern dance is not bound by any rigid technique; movements can correspond exactly to the music or disregard it completely. |
| | | | j) Popular: Tap
| (top) | | | | | Tap dance began in the early 1800s in New York as a fusion of traditional Irish and African dances. The name originated from the metal plated dance shoes that make a 'tapping' noise. Tap dancing is generally a solo dance.
There are a variety of styles and techniques in tap dancing but they all revolve around syncopation and improvisation. Tap dancing can be danced together with music or the dancer can create his/her own rhythm through tapping.
The dance can be very lively, energetic and creative. Because of the nature of the dance--creating rhythm and sound through tapping--there aren't many social clubs or environments where people can go to tap dance. To really emphasise the steps and rhythm, the dancer would need silence or a mic near their feet while dancing to music. |
| | | | k) Salsa
| (top) | | | | | Salsa music is a fusion of traditional African and Cuban and other Latin-American rhythms that traveled from the islands (Cuba and Puerto Rico) between the 1940s and the 1970s. The dance form corresponds to salsa music and can be danced with a partner or solo. Unlike dances like Foxtrot, Salsa couples do not travel across the dance floor much.
There are many different styles of salsa that vary based on timing and style; for example, dancing on 1, New York style, Cuban style, etc. Each has its own rhythm, timing, style, and in some cases music.
Salsa is a very popular social dance. In many cities around the world is not difficult to locate a nightclub where you can meet other salsa dancers. There are also many opportunities available to take it to a competitive or performance level.
Casino Rueda
Casino Rueda is a form of Cuban style salsa dancing where couples dance together in a circle. It originated in Cuba in the 1960s. All of the couples are required to know and execute certain moves that one person (the caller) calls out. Many of the moves involve swapping partners; some of the moves can also be interchanged with Salsa moves. Casino Rueda is danced to Salsa music and can be danced in any social setting, permitting there is space to dance. There are performance and competition opportunities with Casino Rueda. |
| | | | l) Striptease
| (top) | | | | | Striptease is a new dance form for women that is infused with sensuality and is now being taught around the globe. It's a fun way for women to get fit and get in touch with their sexiness. It can be a very athletic form of dance. It helps develop body awareness and helps women realize their exterior beauty and erotic potential. The dance emphasizes graceful, sensual, and flirtatious movements that can be danced to any type of music. It's a great dance to learn for yourself or to share with your partner. |
| | | | m) Swing
| (top) | | | | | Swing dance is a street partner dance that originated in the early 1900s. The three main styles of Swing dancing are Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, and East Coast Swing. Street Swing dance can be danced to a variety of music. Like most street dances it has a few fundamental steps but the rest is open to the dancer's own interpretation and creativity. Ballroom dancing also has its own variation of Swing dance but it is much more structured with specific footwork and patterns, and little room for improvisation.
Swing is a popular social dance, and as such, there are quite a few venues that offer swing dance nights. There are also many competition and performance opportunities for street-style Swing dance and Ballroom Swing dance.
East Coast Swing
East Coast Swing also has its origins in the Lindy Hop and is a simpler street Swing Dance danced on a 6 count. It is based on basic but elegant footwork, patterns, and styling, and has advanced options for the advanced dancer as well.
Hustle
The Hustle is a street social partner dance that originated in New York City and Florida in the 1970s. It is a social dance that is often danced in disco clubs and nightclubs. The basic steps of the dance allow it to be danced to a variety of music styles. Hustle has grown in popularity over the years and now offers many competition, performance, and social dancing opportunities.
Lindy Hop
Lindy Hop is a folk street dance danced to jazz music that emerged with Swing dance in the late 1920s. It is mainly a partner dance that is a fusion of many dance styles, but has its basics in Jazz and Tap dance. It also incorporates solo movements that can be done when there is a “breakaway” moment between the partners.
West Coast Swing
West Coast Swing emerged in the 1930s and is a mixture of street style Swing and Ballroom Swing. It is danced in a compact slot format. West Coast Swing is regarded as one of the most improvisational, musical, and complicated forms of partnered Swing dances. |
| | | | n) Tango
| (top) | | | | | Tango is a social dance that originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Argentine Tango, considered to be the authentic Tango, is comprised of a variety of styles. Ballroom dancing has its own offshoot of Tango dancing. ‘Tango is the music that is used to dance Tango and it has many varieties that accommodate the various styles of the dance.
Argentine tango is a very close-embraced partner dance that relies heavily on improvisation after you learn a few basic steps. Unlike Argentine Tango where the dancers lean towards each other, often touching heads or chests, Ballroom Tango is danced much more upright with the follower pulling away.
There are many places to dance and practice Argentine Tango socially. The beauty of the dance also allows for a lot of performance opportunities. Unlike Argentine Tango, Ballroom Tango is highly competitive in nature. |
| | | | o) Traditional
| (top) | | | | | African
African dance is often characterized by drums and percussion. Dance is very popular in Africa and there are different styles, each conveying a different emotion or idea. There are forms of African dance that represent warrior dances, dances of love, dances calling to spirits, etc. Each style of dance has its own unique percussion rhythm and movement. Some styles are danced solo while others are made for partners or groups. There aren’t very many social avenues to dance and practice traditional dances.
Brazilian
Samba
Brazilian Samba is an energetic and rhythmic dance that originated in Brazil in the 1800s. There are many different styles of samba, each with its own distinct rhythm and movement. Samba can be danced solo or in partners. The dance is very aerobic and is a great way to increase speed and fluidity in your movement. In countries like Brazil, Samba is a very common dance to find in social environments. In other parts of the world, Samba is more of a performance dance that is often accompanied by colourfully extravagant costumes.
Capoeira Angola
Capoeira is a traditional Brazilian-African dance fused with martial arts. Its origins were without music and more violent in nature, but since 1930 it has become a form of art that is characterized by musicality, flexibility, strength, and playfulness. Capoeira is learned solo and is performed between two dancers/players. As a dance and martial art, Capoeira can be a very aerobic and strength building exercise. Capoeira artists are taught not only the physical art but also the music behind it. The ultimate goal is to be able to engage in a non-violent, mock-combat against another player while maintaining the rhythm of the art.
Indian
Classical Indian dancing has its origins in 400 BC and is most widely practiced in Southern India. Classical Indian dance is deeply rooted in the spiritual Hindu culture and can be danced my both men and women. There aren’t many social avenues to practice the dance, but the beautiful movements and story telling nature of the dance lends itself to performances. The dance can be playful, tragic, or romantic in nature. The traditional dance should not be confused with the dance commonly seen in Bollywood film. In its true nature, classical Indian dance is a sacred ritual and not typically a form of general entertainment.
Irish
One popular form of traditional Irish dancing is Irish Stepdancing, popularized by performances like “Riverdance.” The dance is usually performed solo and is characterized by quick and complex footwork. Like most dances, Irish Stepdancing has various styles that range from soft and graceful to energetic and aerobic. Irish Stepdancing is both recreational and competitive. |
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