Whether you’re a beginner, an experienced dancer, or just looking for something new to try, there are lots of different types of dance to choose from. Each style has its own set of music, style, and skills. There are many mental benefits of dancing. Some of the most popular types of dance include ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and salsa. While some of these are more difficult to learn than others, they offer a wide range of benefits to both dancers and the people watching them perform.
- Ballet
This is without doubt one of the most widely recognized and prestigious forms of dance, especially in Europe. The art of ballet isn’t just about physical movement; it’s also about precision and expression. It’s an art form that has influenced other types of dance, and a great way to develop poise and confidence as a dancer.
- Modern
Another popular dance genre that emerged in Europe and the United States in the 20th century, modern dance rejects many of the strict rules of classical ballet, focusing instead on the expression of inner feelings. From Martha Graham’s whole-body breathing exercises to contemporary, high-concept performances, modern dance continues to challenge conventional notions of movement and art.
- Shag
This is another extremely popular social jazz dance, developed in African American communities in the 1930s and became popular in the South Carolina harbour city of Charleston, U.S. In this dance,’scandalous’ men and women shed the stuffy etiquette of their parents’ generation by flapping their arms, kickin’ up their heels, and letting loose.
- Jazz
This is a high energetic dance that pulls from all the different dance styles, mixing them together to create a powerful style that knows no boundaries. It’s accompanied by upbeat, currently popular songs and is usually done in jazz shoes that have a leather split sole so the dancers can bend their feet as much as they want to.
- Swing
This is another swing dance that belongs to a family of dances that originated in the 1920s and 1950s, but it quickly gained popularity. It is a social dance that requires athletic couples to swing, spin, and jump together in syncopated time to the beat of the jazz band.
- Contra
This is another partner dance that is usually performed in the same location, with two parallel lines of dancers performing a sequence of steps with a different partner down the length of each line. It has its roots in similar folk dances from colonial-era Great Britain.
- Rave
Fueled by the unending focus on pulsating beats and loud volume, rave dancers are encouraged to find inspiration in music, other people, and their mood. They often wear extravagant and sexy clothes to dance to psychedelic music in dark, crowded venues of dance clubs and nightclubs.
- Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
This dance style is fueled by electro house music based on different dance styles such as disco and hip hop. It has been a hugely popular style of dancing in Northern Europe and it has also made its way to the rest of the world.
