Here are some of the most popular dance categories and types:

Ballroom Dances
These dances started appearing first in Italy, during the early years of
Renaissance. Popularity of this kind of entertainment quickly swept over
the Europe, United States and the World. Although many other simpler and
more easily preformed types of dances caused the ballroom dances to lose
some of their influence, modern worldwide dancing audience started
resurrecting these immortal dances in ever increasing pace.

 Waltz - This graceful and slow two person dance was first introduced in mid-
19th century and was greatly popularized by the music of the famous
composer Johann Strauss. Today this dance represents gold standard and
the most famous dance of the ballrooms around the world.
 Viennese Waltz - Original form of waltz, first performed at the Italian courts
is today remembered as Viennese Waltz. It differs from the much more
famous "English Slow Waltz" by having much faster 180 beats per minute
and was the first who introduced "closed hold" between performers.
 Tango - Originally created in the Argentinean region of Rio de la Plata, this
dance is today known by many of its variations (Argentine tango, Uruguayan
tango, Finish Tango and two types of Ballroom tangos - standard and
American) and the fascinating sensual and energetic style.
 Cha-Cha-Cha - This incredibly rhythmic dance created in Latin America
managed to meld together both the slow and very energetic movements,
making it an instant hit among the dancers around the world.
 Rumba - Popularity of this Cuban dance came from its focus on sensual hip
movements of dance partners. Since its creation in 1930s many types of
Rumba were created, most notably Cuban Rumba (with the style of the
African slaves which created it), Catalan Rumba (with Spanish flavor),
Flamenco Rumba and African Rumba.
 Samba - Samba is a famous dance and musical genre that originated form
the coast of Africa and land of Brazil. Today infectious rhythm of Samba is
regarded as the national dance of Brazil, and its famous Brazilian Carnival
gathers millions Samba dance fans every year.
 Mambo - This Cuban dance that accompanies the music of the same name
was introduced in 1930s, and quickly managed to gain popularity with the
exploits of famous musicians and dancers such as Perez Prado, Benny
Moré, Tongolele, Adalberto Martínez, Rosa Carmina and Lilia Prado.
 Quickstep - Light-hearted and fast movement, powerful forms and
syncopations, represent the core style characteristics of the Quickstep, one
of the most popular ballroom dances today in the world. Originally developed
in the 1920s dance scene of New York and the Caribbean, as the
combination of the dances such as Charleston, a slow variation of Foxtrot,
Peabody, shag, and one-step. The smooth and glamorous version of
quickstep that is danced today across the world to 4/4 music beat of 48-52
measures per minute was standardized in 1927.
 Jive - Jive is one of the five most popular Latin dances and is also known
under the names of swing, boogie or boogie-woogie. It is considered to be
one of the liveliest of all Latin dances, promoting the happy and bloopy type
of performances, with lots of knee movement and hip rocking. Its official
ballroom jive variation that is commonly danced at a speed of 176 beats per
minute was formalized in the 1990s.
 Bolero - Bolero is an Argentine dance, but it also has different international
variations of the same name coming from Cuba and Spain. Today’s popular
ballroom version of this dance is based on the Cuban bolero, and it is also
known under the name “rumba”. This 2/4 or 4/4 music with a tempo of
around 120 beats per minute that is well known all around the world.
 African-American and Traditional Jazz dances
 Charleston - This extremely popular dance type was popularized by famous
tune called "The Charleston" by composer and pianist James P. Johnson.
Charleston craze soon took over the enthusiastic dancers of Prohibition era
of United States.
 Swing - This dance is today synonym for the jazz and swing music of the
1920s-1930s.Because of the many styles of Jazz music, Swing also comes
in many flavors - Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Boogie Woogie, West Coast Swing
and Rock and Roll.
 Tap Dance - This extremely popular form of dance was first introduced
during 1920s Prohibition era in United States. Originally created by the
African slaves, tap dancing came into the mainstream with the performances
of Nicholas brothers. Few short years later, tap dancing conquered
Hollywood and then entire world.
 Moonwalk - This extremely famous dance move that emuates the illusion of
walking backwards was first performed by pop icon Michael Jackson in
March of 1983, and ever since then it gained planetary fame. No single
dance move ever created managed to receive this amount of popularity and
recognition.
 Boogie-woogie - This quick and energetic style of dance became widely
popular during 1930s and 1940s.

Worldwide Dances / Latin dances

 Salsa - This Latin dance is today one of the most popular dances in Latin
America, North America, Europe and Australia. It's very sensual form,
energetic movement and innovative choreography that was influenced by
Mambo, Changuyi and Rumba made it very popular all around the world.
 Flamenco - This famous Spanish dance originated from the region of
Andalusia, and it gained its name only in 18th century. Its magical, passionate
and energetic fusion of singing (cante), guitar playing (toque), dance and
handclaps (palmas) made it famous in entire world and became one of the
accepted heritages of entire humanity.
 Argentine tango - Among many types of tango dance, Argentinian dance
strives to preserve original form of tango that was first created in the region
of Rio de la Plata.
 Lambada - This famous dance that originated from Para, Brayil became
internationally popular during 1980s. It managed to successfully fuse aspects
of Forro, salsa, merengue, maxixe and the carimbó into unforgettable dance
style.
 Polka - Appearance of polka in mid-19th century created one of the largest
"dance crazes" that our world ever seen. It managed to influence countless
other dances, became national dance of many European countries and is
extremely popular in entire Western hemisphere.
 Jive
 East Coast Swing - Swing dance has many variations, of which one of the
most popular is the East Coast Swing. This social partner dance is known
today under names of Eastern Swing, Jitterbug, American Swing, East Coast
Lindy and Lindy originated between the 1940s and 1960s as the alternative
to the other types of harder-to-learn swing dances.
 Capoeira - Capoeira dance is a unique dance that can be found in the
combat moves of the Afro-Brazilian martial art of the same name that takes
heavy inspiration from music, dance, and acrobatics. Practitioners of this
martial art are famous for being highly athletic dancers who can take
advantage of dance-like moves to perform quick and complex maneuvers
that can deliver a wide variety of kicks, spins, jumps and other techniques
used in combat. Today, Capoeira is famous as one of the most celebrated
cultural heritages of Brazil and South America.
 Country/ Western Dances - - The country dance style is a social dance
activity that is closely associated with American country and its Western
traditions. It is made not from a single dance but encompasses many forms
and styles of dance that can be performed to country-western music. No
matter the type of music style or dance type, Country dance gatherings
employ strong dancefloor etiquette and even ability to perform multiple
dances styles on a dance floor at the single time.
 Folk Dance - Folk dances represent musical, cultural heritage, reflections of
daily life or ethnic history of people who live in a certain region or country.
Popular all around the world in hundreds of unique variations and styles, folk
dances (also known as traditional or ethnic dances) are usually performed at
dance gatherings with the accompaniment of traditional music of the region.
Majority of folk dances are not regulated, and they slowly morph during the
passage of time.
 Belly dance - Belly dance is one of the most famous oriental folk dances in
the world. It is an expressive form dance that originated from Egypt, and it
emphasizes the complex movement of the torso and entire body utilizing
sudden percussive movements, unstopping fluid body motions and presence
of small and fast shimmies, shivers and vibrations of the hips or the ribcage.
Belly dance is regarded as very sensual, emotional and captivating.

Professional performance dance

Professional dancing was first introduced in the early years of Italian
Renaissance when music, dance, arts and poetry started to rise in
popularity after the millennia of medieval stagnation. Refined by the efforts
of the France and Russia, ballet became the premier technical concert
dance. Hailed as one of the most revered and most complicated dance of
all time, ballet continued its rise to worldwide domination. In the modern
times, many other professional dances came to be, such as Contemporary
dance, Modern Dance, Concert dance, but none of them managed to
surpass the complexity, physical strain, and heritage of ballet.
 Ballet - Ballet is without any doubt one of the most highly technical and
famous of all performance dances. It was originally created in 15th century
Renaissance Italy, but it received popularization in countries such as France
and Russia. It’s incredible popularity and influence has had a profound
impact on techniques found in many other dances, and has even morphed
the cultural histories of many countries around the world.
 Contemporary dance - Contemporary dance is a highly complicated type of
modern performance dance that originated in the mid-20th century as an
alternative to classical dance styles (such as ballet), modern styles (free
dance) and Jazz dance. Its focus on free leg movement, strong stress on the
torso, disordered choreography, unpredictability, multiple and simultaneous
actions, improvisation, and non-standardized costumes, sets, and lighting
has pushed this dance into the forefront of modern art dance scene.
 Concert Dance - Concert dance (also known as stage dance) is any
choreographed dance that is performed for an audience, usually at the
theatre or an organized gathering setting with the presence of set music. It is
a polar opposite of social or participation dances, where participants can
freely dance how and when they wish. Most popular concert dances are
Ballet, Acrobatic dance, tap dance, modern dance, classical Indian or
Persian dances and others.
 Modern Dance - Modern dance is an influential performance dance that
originated as a reaction against the classical ballet and its movement style.
Shaped by many factors in late 19th and early to mid-20th century, modern
dance evolved into a popular free dance style that includes elements of
performance art, release technique, improvisation and contact improvisation.
 Tap Dance - Among many types of popular dances around the world, tap
dance may be one of the most unusual dances. Instead of focusing on body
movements and dancing with a partner, tap dance is characterized by the
creation of percussion-like musically-focused rhythm performance using tap
shoes striking on the floor in accordance with the dancing music.

Modern Dances
Advancements in music technology brought the birth of many new types of
dances. Introduction of electronic and rock music brought the era of House,
Punk, Rave and Disco dance. Faraway country of India did not cared much
for those styles, and in accordance to the deeply seeded religious beliefs,
they incorporated dance of their gods to everyday life and was and
profitable Bollywood movie scene.
 House dance - After the years of popularity of Disco, the genre of House
music and house dance became born in New York and Chicago clubs. Built
 on top of subtler rhythms, riffs of the music and influences of jazz, Latin, soul,
funk, R&B, and many other music styles, this social dance quickly found its
way into homes and clubs across the entire world.
 Punk dance - Born as an extension of 1960s garage rock, the punk rock
managed to attract fans who enjoyed not traditional social dances of before,
but more energetic and sometimes violent dance style of moshing
(sometimes called slam-dancing) and headbanging. This dance styles were
characterized by the strong and full body contact of live band audience, with
frequent bumping and jostling both alone and in groups.
 Rave dance - Fueled by the unending focus on pulsating beats, loud volume
and psychedelic music effects, dancers of rave music are free to create their
freestyle of movements, with no rules about dance routines or synchronized
moves, usually in dark and crowded venues of dance clubs, nightclubs, and
festivals. Dancers are encouraged to find inspiration in music, other people,
and their mood.
 Disco dance - The popular disco music genre of the 1970s would not found
such popularity if it was not so easy to dance with. Fans of this music often
wore extravagant and sexy clothing while dancing free form or structured
versions of various disco dances, such as Bump, (several variations of)
Hustle, Robot, Boogaloo, Watergate, and others.
 Bollywood dance - The cultural history of India and the rest of southern Asia
would not remain the same without the strong influence of Bollywood movie
industry which has promoted Hindi dance music to the world. Created as the
mix of traditional Indian music, Hindi dance traditions of the Indian sub-
continent, and Middle-Eastern techniques, Bollywood dance is characterized
by elaborate choreographies, energetic movements, and dances that involve
a large number of participants.

Hip-hop & Funk dance

Dancing style of Hip-Hop evolved from the music style that was first
introduced during 1970s. Powered by the great popularity, exposure in
media, movies and television programs, hip-hop dances found a great
foothold in United States, France, United Kingdom and South Korea. A very
similar style called Funk was also created during 1970s, and is today
regarded as one of the most influential pieces of Hip-hop dance styles.
 Breakdance (Breaking) - One of the most athletic dances in the world,
Breakdance, have originally found its popularity in the 1970s as the street
dance in the New York’s Bronx. Since then it has spread all around the world
where it was viewed as one of the most unique dance styles ever made.
Usually danced solo, this dance requires talented dancers to perform the
series of either choreographed or freeform dance and athletic movements
alongside usually breakbeat, hip-hop or funk music.
 Bounce - Born in the 1980s as a mix of New Orleans hip-hop music and the
traditions of the Mardi Gras Indian chants, Bounce dance can today be
danced both in its common and hypersexual form. Since it is so closely
connected with the traditions of the Mardi Gras culture, many forms of
Bounce today remain to be highly regional and can rarely be seen dancing
outside of the music scenes of New Orleans, Miami, Baltimore, and other
music hubs.
 Electric boogaloo - Funk style of hip-hop was popularized not only by its
music but also by the worldwide acceptance of the famous dance style called
Electric Boogaloo, which was originally promoted in the 1970s by the dance
group of the same name. Danced both by individuals and groups in both free
form and choreographed manner, Electric Boogaloo is filled with the wide
variety of moves that focused on the movement of legs, hips, knees and
frequent use of exaggerated robotic-like moves.
 Street Jazz - Created with the influences of African American slaves, Jazz
dance gained popularity in the early 20th century as any form of dance that
was performed alongside then new Jazz music. Highly improvisational and
freeform, Jazz dance quickly morphed into a performance dance that
emulated elements of ballet. Today, Jazz dance is enjoyed in many forms
which are collectively called “modern jazz dance”.
 Jookin' - Jookin’ or so-called “gangsta waling” style of dance is a street
dance that originated quite recently in the 1990s on the streets of Memphis,
Tennessee. The dance is characterized by the movement set that tries to
emulate the “bounce” in the core beat of the crunk music that often
accompanies this dance style. Even though this dance has found some
popularity worldwide, it is still a regional dance that can rarely be seen
outside of the city of Memphis.
 Locking - Funk dance is incredibly diverse, and one of its famous variations
is “locking”. The core gimmick of this style of hip-hop dance is to suddenly
stop and hold the position (or get locked) in the middle of dance routines for
 a short while, and then suddenly resume the dance. It requires full body
motion, but most of the dance is focused on top half of the body. Many
Locking dancers prefer to use various acrobatic and physically demanding
moves to augment their dance routines.
 Popping - Very close in style with popular Electric Boogaloo, Popping is
another variation of the funk-themed street dance from the 1960s and 1970s
that found popularity all around the world. The technique that dancers need
to master to properly dance Popping is controlled and quick contrasting and
relaxing of muscles that will create the feeling of a jerk throughout the body.
This jerk is referred as “pop” or “hit” and can be used to augment dance
routines, movements and possess.
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