Types of Dancing

High ratings for popular television shows like "Dancing with the Stars" and "So You Think You Can Dance?" have increased the public interest in different types of dancing.  People are tuning in weekly to watch their favorite celebrities do the Fox Trot and the Waltz.  Meanwhile, amateur and professionals are flocking to ballroom dancing classes and competitions.

Dance has been a part of human culture since the beginning of time.  It has been used as a form of cultural and artistic expression, exercise, musical display and social interaction.

Social Dance

Social dance is one type of dancing that is typically associated with parties and social settings of the late 18th century.  These dances many times are performed with partners and include Ballroom, Folk Dancing and Square dancing. 

Ballroom Dance

Ballroom Dance is a popular dance form that has been at least since the Renaissance Period of the 16th century.  Today, ballroom dancing incorporates several categories that are either described as International Style or American Style.  International Style includes the following categories:

• Waltz- The Waltz is one of the standard dances of International Style.  The music is typically slow, dancers tend to hold each other closely as they glide across the floor with a variety of turns and steps specifically designed for the male and female partner.  The close proximity of the dancers is referred to as the closed position.
  
  
• Tango- The Tango is also considered a standard dance within the International Style.  But, the combination of its Latin, African and Indian influences are unmistakable.  Developed in the late 19th century in Buenos Aires, the Tango is marked by crisp steps, dynamic movements and close embraces.
  
  
• Viennese Waltz- The Viennese Waltz is known to be faster than today's customary Waltz.  In fact, many consider this version of the Waltz to be the original one.  It is primarily made up of turns and change steps.
  
  
• Foxtrot- The Foxtrot was a popular dance of the early 20th century and developed in America.  It was used to dance to swing and ragtime music of that time and had a moderately quick pace.  However now, there is a slow version and a quick version of the dance.  The quick version is called the Quickstep.
  
  
• Quickstep- As indicated above, the Quickstep is a faster version of the Foxtrot but has its own distinct characteristics.  The dance incorporates a lot of movement with fast steps and turns, hops and runs.
  
  
• Cha Cha- The Cha Cha is considered a Latin dance within the International Style with Latin influences originating in Cuba.  It is often paired with Cha Cha music and includes the Cuban motion which involves the simultaneous motion of moving your hips and bending and straightening your knees in a smooth rhythmic dance.
  
  
• Samba- The Samba is another Latin dance style within the International Style. This time the birthplace is Brazil developed by West African immigrants.  Today the dance can be seen very prominently each year during Carnival.  While the Samba can be performed without a partner, it is performed with a partner for the purposes of social dancing. Samba music is provides the beat for this energetic dance.
  
  
• Rumba- The Rumba performed in ballroom dancing has a slower tempo and is performed to music with a Cuban origin.  Although it is a slower dance, it still incorporates the Cuban motion.  The Rumba is also described as a very sensual dance that involves a great deal of flirtation between the dance partners.
  
  
• Paso Doble- If you can imagine the music associated with a Spanish bullfight, with blowing horns and marching tempos, then you can probably imagine the music of the Paso Doble.  This dance actually mimics a bullfight with the leader taking on the role of the matador. It originated in France.
  
  
• Jive- Jive is a quick paced dance that originated in the United States in the 1940s.  Developed by African-Americans, it is danced to jazz beats.

American Style dances also have several of the same dance titles and are divided into smooth dances and rhythm dances.  Smooth dances include the waltz, tango, foxtrot and Viennese waltz.  Rhythm dances include the cha cha, rumba, East Coast swing, bolero and mambo.

Ballet

Ballet is a form of performance dance that first began to spring onto stages in the late 1600s. Although its name hints at a French origin, ballet actually originated in Italy.  Over the years, the dance form has evolved into a key type of dance that is performed by dance companies all over the world.  Today, there are generally three main types of ballet: classical, neoclassical and contemporary.

• Classical ballet refers to forms of the dance that closely resemble its original format.  These dances were developed in Italy, France and Russia.  Classical ballet has a high reliance on ballet technique which focuses on specific positions of arms, feet and body, posture and moves.
  
  

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  Neoclassical ballet is close to classical ballet but allows the addition of more modern techniques.
  
• Contemporary ballet is considered to be a convergence of classical ballet and modern dance.  Dancers still focus on the positioning and footwork needed for classical ballet, however their movements are more fluid.

Modern Dance

Modern dance was developed as a backlash of sorts to classical ballet in the early 20th century.  Many choreographers of modern dance took on the role of storyteller in

the composition of many their dance creations.  The dances were based on social and political events of their times. Modern dance also includes African American dance with took cues from some traditional African dances as well as experiences.