What Are the Main Types of Dance Styles?

Dancing is something that everyone is familiar with. Whether you practiced in front of your bedroom mirror as a kid or awkwardly hopped around when your favorite song came on at a wedding, chances are you’ve danced at some point in your life. But dancers are more than those uninhibited people flailing and spinning on the dance floor when the DJ plays a song worthy of jumping, too. There is an entire world hidden beneath the surface of typical club dancing and pop star music videos. Check out this guide to learn more about the different types of dance styles and their subdivisions.

Ballet

Ballet is a classical form of dance that is characterized by its grace and elegance. There are four main types of ballet: classical, contemporary, character, and historical.

Classical ballet is the most popular and well-known form of ballet. It is based on traditional French techniques and uses formalized movements.

Contemporary ballet is a more modern form of ballet that uses more contemporary music and movements. Character ballet is based on traditional folk dances and tells a story through dance, and historical ballet is based on dances from a specific time period.

Parents normally enroll their daughters in ballet while they are still young. Look here at why you should do the same.

Jazz

Jazz is a popular American dancer which is originated from the city of New Orleans. This style is a mix of African and European cultures, and the music consists of improvised movements.

There are many different jazz styles, such as street jazz, dance to pop music, and classical Jazz, a more technical dance incorporating ballet technique.

Contemporary

Contemporary dance is a style that incorporates elements of both ballet and jazz. It is characterized by its use of floor work, port de bras, and contact improvisation.

There are three main types of contemporary dance: lyrical, jazz, and modern. Though they share some commonalities, each has its own unique features.

Lyrical contemporary is characterized by its flowing, graceful movements. Jazz contemporary is generally more upbeat and fast-paced, with lots of turns and big leaps. Modern contemporary is a very broad category that includes a variety of styles.

Hip Hop

This style is usually performed in pop, hip-hop, soul, or funk music. Hip-hop is a street dance style that originated in the African-American and Latino communities in New York City.

It is a dance style often performed in hip-hop music and is characterized by its freestyle nature.

Tap

There are many dance options, but tap is one of the most popular. It is a form of dance that is performed by using the feet to create rhythms and sounds.

Tap dancing is often used in musicals and movies, and it is a great way to express yourself. There are many different styles of tap, but the most common are Broadway tap and rhythm tap.

Learn These Types of Dance Styles

There are many types of dance styles to choose from, so it is important to do some research to find the right one for you.

The benefits of dancing include meeting new people and expressing yourself. Once you find a style you are interested in, find a class and a teacher that you feel comfortable with.

We hope that this guide to dance styles has inspired you and encouraged you to start on the right foot. Check the rest of our site for more!


Diana Muniz
Diana Muniz

With over 20+ years of experience in a variety of corporate and entrepreneurial environments, Diana has developed a great understanding of Marketing Strategy, Brand Development, Customer Success, Public Relations and Management. Her internal drive for developing others and external brands, has allowed her to work in some of the largest cities in the world including Milan, Paris, NY, Mexico, and the Middle East. This experience has been fundamental to Diana’s success and ability to communicate cross-culturally.

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