DANCE STYLES

Dance is a type of art which involves the movement of the body in a rhythm according to music. It is performed in many cultures and usually expresses ideas or tells a story. It is also a form of social interaction, and for some it’s a type of exercise which is beneficial not only for the body but also for the soul. For some people it’s a passion, for others a profession.

There are various types of dance styles all over the world. Here are some of them.

Hip-hop dancing, which is also known as “Street Dance”, has evolved as a part of hip-hop culture. It consists of a wide range of styles like breaking, locking and popping which were created in the 1970s in the United States.

Tap dance is characterized by a tapping sound which is created from metal plates that are attached to both the ball and heel of the dancer’s shoes. These metal plates, when tapped against a hard surface, create a percussive sound so the dancers are considered to be musicians. It is believed to have begun in the mid-1800s during the rise of minstrel shows.

The Yangko dance is a traditional folk dance of the Han Chinese. It involves swaying of the body to certain rhythms. The waist and the hip are used to drive feet in order to synchronise with the music.

Belly dancing, which is also called Middle Eastern dance or Arabic dance in the West, originated from the Middle East. Belly dancing became popular in the West during the Romantic movement of the 18th and 19th centuries, when romanticized images of harem life in the Ottoman Empire were depicted by Orientalist artists.

Kathak is one of the traditional dances originating from India. The name of the dance is derived from Sanskrit which means story. Just like the name, they are supposed to tell a story. These dances are very complicated and usually have a meaning to them.

Adapted from the wonderslist website