25 Dance Forms Across the World

The dance reality shows on TV these days have surely increased our knowledge of different dance forms. Have you ever wondered how many varieties of dance forms exist around the world? Literally hundreds!! 
Dance styles may be Classical, folk, traditional, contemporary or theatrical performances. Dance has its own language. Dance as art may tell a story, set a mood or express an emotion. The dance styles are also a reflection of cultural and traditional values of the region.

I have a very little knowledge about the dance forms. Am sharing this new found knowledge with you all , hope it helps you in understanding more of this art form.

Here is a sneak peek into 25 of the most popular dance forms from around the world.

	1. Aerial dance refers to a theatrical production performed by dancers who are suspended in the air with the aid of apparatus such as ropes, lengths of cloth known as silks, straps or a trapeze. The difference between this form and a circus act is that in aerial dance artistic focus takes precedence over the virtuosity of the maneuvers.
	2. African dance comprises many traditional and modern dances, with great variation in style and form across the continent. In Africa, dance is closely related to music, mime, storytelling, costume and ritual.
	3. Ballet is a theatrical dance form with a codified technique. It requires strength, resilience, elegance and grace all at once. It may be difficult to master and takes lots of patience and practice to learn. Various styles of Ballet have developed over the years like Ballet d'action (dramatic ballet), Ballet jazz, Comédie-ballets, Neo-classical ballet, Psychological ballets, Rock ballet.
	4. Belly dance, also known as raqs sharqi , is traditionally a solo form for women. Characterized by sinuous, rhythmic hip movements and undulating arms, belly dancing has been popular in cabarets from the 19th century
	5. Brazilian folk dance is found in many different styles in each region of the country, and is often influenced by African dance and cultural traditions. The lively Brazilian samba,and its importance to the annual Carnival, is recognized around the world.
	6.Break dance, or breakin', is an athletic solo form of dance that originated in the street in the United States. The foundation vocabulary of break dance includes top/up rock, breakdowns, footwork and freezes, as well as acrobatic spins and power moves. Body popping, which involves a series of sharp, fast actions that travel through the body alternating with moments of freeze, creates a robotic effect.
	7. Butoh describes a revolutionary and contemporary performing art form that developed in Japan during the 1950s and 1960s in the aftermath of World War II.
	8. Capoeira is a stylized martial art dance from Brazil, characterized by acrobatic fighting maneuvers and athletic dance steps. It is designated as a national sport in Brazil, where it is taught in schools and performed as a contest between combatants. Once only performed by men, now women also dance capoeira.
	9. Cha Cha Cha is an American dance of Cuban origin.  Cha-Cha is a happy, carefree, cheeky, party-time dance which is danced to the music of same name
	10. Chinese dance can be divided into two major styles: minjian wudao (folk dance) and gudian wudao (classical dance). In folk dances, the inclusion of theatrical elements such as mime and drama often depict a short plot. The colors, the music and the costumes are all beautifully enhanced through the art of traditional Chinese dancing. Years of training, discipline and a commitment to their craft are required to achieve the excellence A third style of Chinese dance is minzu wuju   (national dance drama)
	11. Contact Improvisation or Contact improv as it is commonly called is a movement form where two people dance together in physical contact, using their weight and the momentum of the movement to allow the dance to unfold improvisationally. Contact improvisation is a relaxing and gentle way to relieve stress, gently develop strength and flexibility.
	12. Flamenco dance originally developed from the cante or songs of Andalucia, Spain that expressed the blessings and hardships of everyday life. Flamenco dance is characterized by highly nuanced, percussive footwork, a straight spine with at times an arch in the upper back, and arms held in long curves that frame the body. It conveys strength and, simultaneously, tenderness, urgency, pride and resilience.
	14. Hip hop dance originated on the streets of New York City among young Hispanic and African-American men during the late 1960s as part of the hip hop culture of rap, scratch music and graffiti art. Break dance is the most common style of this constantly evolving dance form. A newer development that came out of Los Angeles is the freestyle, high energy and confrontational krumping, in which the dancers sometimes use physical contact and weight sharing.
	13. Jazz Dance was developed in the United States by African-Americans in the early part of the 20th century. Jazz dancing is a form of dance that showcases a dancer's individual style and originality. Every jazz dancer interprets and executes moves and steps in their own way. This type of dancing is energetic and fun, consisting of unique moves, fancy footwork, big leaps and quick turns. To excel in jazz, dancers need a strong background in ballet, as it encourages grace and balance
	15. Jive is one of the five International Latin dances and is the faster version of the swing. Jive is a very happy, boppy, energetic dance, with plenty of knee-lifting, bending, and rocking of the hips. It incorporates lots of kicks and flicks, even twirling of the woman, and doesn't move around the dance floor like other dances. Although Jive dancers may appear to be moving their feet haphazardly in every direction, the feet are actually well-controlled under the body with the knees close together. Common Jargon - Rock step, chasse
	16. Mambo is one of the most popular forms of Latin dance. Although it has some similarities to salsa dancing, it is a distinct dance form with its own steps and rhythms. Mambo literally means "shake it!" and, in this dance, you do just that. Mambo is a partner dance characterized by a series of rocking foot steps. The steps are simple, and they allow you to swivel your hips from side to side. Mambo for men is all about being confident and leading your partner. Mambo for women requires the woman to follow the man's steps and mirror his footwork

17. Indian Classical Dances
1. Bharata natyam is one of the most popular classical Indian dances. the traditional elements of classical dance which forms the basis for the performance are the mudras (hand positions), abhinaya (facial expressions) and padams (narrative dances). Bharatnatyam is more popular in South Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

2.  Bihu dance is a folk dance from the Indian state of Assam related to the festival of Bihu. This joyous dance is performed by both young men and women, and is characterized by brisk dance steps, rapid hand movement, and a rhythmic swaying of the hips in order to represent youthful passion. Dancers wear traditionally colorful Assamese clothing.

3. Kathak is a classical North Indian dance, now popular around the world. The word kathak is derived from katha, meaning story. Kathak is characterized by intricate footwork and precise rhythmic patterns that the dancer articulates by controlling ankle bells. Both men and women dance kathak, which often conveys moods of love. 

4. Kathakali originated in the South Indian state of Kerala over 500 years ago, . It is a highly stylised classical Indian dance-drama noted for its attractive make-up of characters, their elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements. The name comes from the roots katha( story) and kali( performance or play).

5. Kuchipudi developed in the state of Andhra Pradesh. It exhibits scenes from the Hindu Epics, legends and mythological tales through a combination of music, dance and acting. Like other classical dances, Kuchipudi also comprises pure dance, mime and histrionics but it is the use of speech that distinguishes Kuchipudi's presentation as dance drama. Another unique feature is the tarangam, in which the performer dances on the edges of a brass plate, executing complicated rhythmic patterns while sometimes also balancing a pot of water on the head. 

6. Manipuri, a smooth and graceful dance form, is from Manipur, a north eastern state of India. The most striking part of Manipuri dance is its colorful decoration, lightness of dancing foot, delicacy of abhinaya(drama), lilting music and poetic charm. This dance form is mostly ritualistic and draws heavily from the rich culture of Manipur. Dancers wear long embroidered skirts and translucent veils as they perform swaying and gliding movements.

7. Mohiniattam is a classical dance form of Kerala. Mohiniattam is derived from the words "Mohini" (meaning beautiful women) and "attam"(meaning dance). Thus, Mohiniattam dance form is a beautiful feminine style with surging flow of body movements. It is similar in origin to its traditionally masculine counterpart kathakali, but involves more feminine attributes. 

8. Odissi dates back to the first century B.C. Odissi, which originated in the temples of the state of Orissa in Eastern India, is characterized by fluidity of the upper torso and graceful gestures and wristwork, juxtaposed with firm footwork. The rhythmic dances are called batu (foundation), pallavi(flowering) and moksha (liberation). An important feature of this dance is the tribhangi, which divides the body into three parts: head, bust and torso. This concept has created the very characteristic poses, which are more contorted than those founding other classical Indian dances.

9. Yakshagana is a popular folk theatre form of Karnataka with a long history of nearly  400 years. It is a unique harmony of musical tradition, eye-catching costumes, and authentic styles of dance, improvised gestures and acting with its extemporaneous dialogue appealing to a wide range of the community. It is a vibrant, vigorous living form of theatre art. 

Some more of the Indian Dance forms not included here are Bhangra (from Punjab), Garba (from Gujarat), Lavani (from Maharashtra), Sattriya(from Assam), Dekhni (from Goa) and Bollywood Dance

	18. Salsa is a lively, fiery and enjoyable dance that is really easy to get the basics of. In essence, Salsa is no more than a front and back step with your partner with a sway to it . It's largely a partner dance, but with many fancy "shines" that can be thrown in individually.
	19. Swing is actually a whole family of dances, all of which evolved from the original swing dance, the "Lindy hop" of the 1920s. Since then, more than 40 different versions have been documented, most of them set to that great, big band sound. The most common swing dance in competitions is the "East Coast swing," a style developed in the years after World War II. With its free-wheeling style and adaptability to new kinds of music, swing has never gone out of style
	20. Tanztheater (German, "dance theatre") is dance set in a dramatic situation, which may include dialogue. This style developed out of the earlier German form ausdruckstanz (expressive dance) originated by Mary Wigman. Today, tanztheater is synonymous with the work of choreographer Pina Bausch.
	21. Tango One of the most fascinating of all dances, the tango is a sensual ballroom dance that originated in South America in the early twentieth century. Tango is usually performed by a man and a woman, expressing an element of romance in their synchronized movements.
	22.Tap dance was first seen in the United States in the late 19th century. The name comes from the tapping sound made when the small metal plates on the dancer's shoes touch a hard floor. This lively, rhythmic tapping makes the performer not just a dancer, but also a percussive musician. In its solo form, tap dance often includes an improvised section that might be compared to a solo taken by a jazz drummer. Individual tap dancers are recognized for having their own distinct voice or tapping style.
	23. Ukrainian dance is often described as energetic, fast-paced, and entertaining, and along with traditional Easter eggs (pysanky), it is a characteristic example of Ukrainian culture. Men competitively improvise high leaps and squatting kicks, while women dance lyrical, graceful steps.
	24. Waltz is the oldest of the ballroom dances. Waltz is a smooth progressive dance characterized by long, flowing movements, continuous turns, and rise & fall. Graceful and elegant, Waltz dancers glide around the floor almost effortlessly. At 28-30 measures per minute, the tempo is slow at best, but the expressive quality of the music often invites very powerful and dynamic movement from dancers.
	25.Fandango dance style is one of the main dances in Portugal. It involves the tapping of the feet and quick changes of the position. This is a folk dance, which has its origins in Southern Spain. Fandango is a lively couples dance, usually in triple metre, traditionally accompanied by guitars and castanets or hand-clapping ("palmas" in Spanish and Portuguese)

Some of the famous dance forms missed out in the list are Rumba, Paso Double, Quickstep, Foxtrot, Lambada, Hustle, Polka, Bachata, Step Dance, Bolero, Contra Dance, Merengue.