Dance – an expression of love and happiness! Why am I saying this? Is it because everyone loves to dance? Don’t you see your feet tapping and swaying to the tunes of music? Isn’t there an instant movement in the body when we hear a song or when we are happy? Yes, dance comes from within. Dance is indeed a natural expression of love and happiness. The topic of discussion today is “dancing styles.”
Yes! The article comprises a list of 10 such dancing styles that you must learn. Dance is something that you can learn at any age. This will give you a feeling of joy as well as will help you to stay fit and energized.
However, Over the years, different dance styles have become part of different communities and countries. Therefore, this results in making the world flatter and citizens becoming more global.
Furthermore, these dance forms can be seen in all parts of the world and not just restricted to those communities and countries. Isn’t it intriguing why each and every individual is obsessed with various dancing styles?
Most of the dancing styles that I am going to mention in this article might be already known to you. Because these dancing styles are very popular as well could easily be seen in each part of the globe.
READ MORE – Meditation With Music Benefits
So, without any further ado let’s dive straight into the list of 10 famous dancing styles.
1- Ballet
Ballet is an artistic dance form. It is performed alongside softer music. However, There are formal gestures and precise steps required in this.
Do you know? Classical ballet originated in Italy and then got popular across Europe and other countries. The most famous dancing styles type ever.
It requires the use of pointed shoes and frills in dresses. Ballet is one of the best dance forms to help get flexible. I mean who doesn’t like flexibility?
It helps you to learn the art of balance and the graceful movements of the arms and legs teach them proper poise and posture. Ballet also strengthens your core muscles. What can be a greater deal than that?
Also, who doesn’t like wearing pretty frocks and shoes while performing? Perhaps the most widely known and performed ballet style is late Romantic ballet. Furthermore, there are other forms of ballet dancing too. some of them include classical ballet, neoclassical ballet, and contemporary ballet.
2- Jazz
Jazz dance paralleled the birth and spread of jazz itself from its roots in Black American society and was popularized in ballrooms by the big bands of the swing era (the 1930s and ’40s).
However, It has unique movements, special foot dance, and leaps. Jazz is both energetic, as well as a fun dance style. Of course, the dance form is also about creativity with dancers improvising on the moves to add meaning to the performance.
I will not deny that it’s a little tough to learn this dancing style, nevertheless, with practice it becomes easy.
However, Today, jazz has branched out to include various styles, including Broadway, hip-hop, funk, Afro-Caribbean, Latin, pop, and tap dance. Albeit, Jazz is an expressive form of dance with many types of dance steps and footwork, each with a unique flair and technique.
READ MORE – Benefits Of Studying While Listening To Music
3- Lyrical
Lyrical falls in between jazz and ballet. It is usually performed in groups. The dance form has a storytelling style.
However, Lyrical dance may be one of the newcomers to the range of dances being learned around the country.
Basically, in this dance form Choreographers use the lyrics from the song to inspire the dance. And the result is a style that focuses on strong emotion as well as a more individual approach than some dance styles.
4- Hip-Hop
Hip Hop Dance is a style of movement characterized by bounces and rocks, executed to Hip Hop music. The most famous dancing styles type ever.
However, It has deep historical and social roots in African American culture, having emerged in Black communities living in 1970s New York.
Speaking of The 5 Elements of Hip Hop namely, Deejaying, Emceeing, Graffiti, Breaking, Knowledge.
Do you know? “Hip” = present, “Hop”= action.
Therefore, Hip Hop is a movement that represents the freedom to learn, grow, and evolve.
Types of Hip Hop dances:
- Breaking
- Hip Hop Party Dances
- umbrella
5- Contemporary
This dancing style is globally very popular. The contemporary dance form is a recent dance form addition that is a huge hit in the US and Europe.
However, It is a fusion of many cultures and dancers learn to perform complex physical moves.
The physical movements are often so pronounced that choreographers also use gymnastic moves in the dance form.
The term “contemporary” is somewhat misleading: it describes a genre that developed during the mid-20th century and is still very popular today.
Contemporary dancers focus on floorwork, using gravity to pull them down to the floor.
This dance genre is often done in bare feet. Contemporary dance can be performed in many different styles of music.
READ MORE – What Kind Of Music Helps A Student Concentrate?
6- Zumba
Zumba is, of course, the most happening dance form today with even moms turning towards it for primarily fitness goals. This dance form includes fitness as a main aspect of dancing.
However, this dancing style helps you to burn calories, enhance cardiovascular health, and improve coordination and balance. The most famous dancing styles type ever.
It has some psychological benefits too. Other than that, Zumba is a fun exercise to do. This helps you keep engaged for a more extended period for better results.
7- Tap Dancing
The sound of ‘tap’ from shoes onto the dance floor is the central style of Tap dancing. This dance form is all about grace and teamwork. There is rhythm and elegance, as well as stretch movements for the body.
However, Tap Dancing is popular on Broadway and performed on many stages across the world.
There are several benefits of the tap-dancing style:
- Boost cardiovascular performance.
- Tone leg muscles.
- Reduce the risk of high blood pressure.
- Burn Fat.
Well, I would say If tap dancing is something that tickles your fancy, why not give it a try!
READ MORE – How Does Music Affect The Brain
8- Bharatnatyam
One of the oldest classical dances of India, Bharatnatyam is a wonderful combination of expressions and body movements. The dance form is centered on mythological stories.
However, Bharatnatyam is taught in all parts of the country. The mudras or hand gestures play an important role in this dance form. It brings poise in your conduct and flexibility to your body. The most famous dancing styles type ever.
There are several health health benefits of learning this dancing style,
- Improves flexibility
- Increased stamina
- Improves balance
- Provides healthy heart
- Improves concentration
You will be surprised to know that there are a lot of other benefits too of learning this dancing style,
- Bharatnatyam demands a lot of facial expressions. It involves the movement of the eyes, eyebrows, neck, and lips which make the muscles strong.
- The facial tissues become strong due to the constant movement of facial muscles. Different expressions are used in displaying different feelings like sadness, anger, happiness, etc.
- Bharatnatyam dancers have glowing skin and grace in their eyes. The eye movements help in strengthening the eye muscles.
9- Kathak
Another Indian Classical dance Kathak is also a popular dance form and well known worldwide.
The dance visually tells stories from the epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana. Kathak is also an extremely energetic dance.
Like all other Indian Classical Dances, Kathak helps in hand, foot, and eye coordination and helps you express your emotions through facial expressions.
It’s a beautiful and most loved dancing style here in India.
10- Folk Dances
My country, India, is home to many rich folk dances. Depending on where you hail from, learning folk dances can be a great way to stay connected with one’s regional culture.
How great it is to stay connected with your culture. Some of the other folk dances that one can try include Bhangra, Garba, Lavani, Hikat, and more.
Also, folk dances are performed during festivals and occasions too, giving people the opportunity to showcase their skills and take part in the celebrations.
However, This dancing style is great for your memory and general brain functions because you learn new patterns of steps that combine in many ways.
After a while, it’s easy to pick up new dances quickly because they reuse step patterns from similar dances.
It’s great for connecting your mind with your body. You can feel the rhythm of the music and your brain recognizes patterns that you learned in other dances.
It’s a great way to connect with people from other communities and cultures. Folk Dancers are a worldwide welcoming community.
