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Famous Ballet Dancers

Here is a list of famous ballet dancers of all time. They are famous for their achievement throughout
their career. Some of them had also brought a revolution in the dance form. 

1. Anna Pavlova 
This popular Russian ballet dancer is famous for changing the look of ballet dancers. She was thin and
small, not at all the preferred body of a usual ballet best dancers during her time. The credit for crafting
the modern pointe shoes goes to her. 

2. Mikhail Baryshnikov 
Now here is another famous dancer who originated from Russia as well. He is one of the famous Russian
male ballet dancers in the whole world and still living. He got a nomination for the Academy best Award
for Best Supporting Actor in the year 1977. 

For his excellent work in the film “The Turning Point,” as “Yuri Kopeikine” he also received a Golden
Globe nomination. 

3. Rudolf Nureyev

Russian famous dancer Rudolf Nureyev is nicknamed the “Lord of the Dance.” He started his career as a
ballet dancer in St. Petersburg with Mariinsky Ballet. 

From the year 1983 to 1989, he was the director of the Paris Opera Ballet, and till 1992, he was the chief
choreographer as well. Till today he is considered as one of the famous male dancers. 

4. Martha Graham
Martha Graham, who is mostly known as the pioneer of modern dance, is an American dancer and
choreographer. In the world of dance with the strict rules of ballet, she dared to introduce the modern
dance form with the entire globe. 

Modern dance has grown beyond the limited set of ballet movements, which were considered proper. It
also stopped wearing pointe shoes and corsets for greater freedom of movement. Her graham
technique has changed American dance. 

5. Vaslav Nijinsky
I can not end the list of famous ballet dancers without talking about Vaslav Nijinsky, who is still
considered one of the most famous male ballet dancers. He was born to a family of dancers who usually
performed throughout the Russian Empire with their own company. 

After completing his training at the Imperial School of Dancing in 1907, he became a soloist in St.
Petersburg, at Mariinsky Theatre. Later in the year 1912, he started his journey as a choreographer and
created original ballets; one example is Afternoon of a Faun, specifically for Ballet Russes.  

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Famous Hip Hop Dancers

After ballet, now I will talk about some famous dancers who have gained popularity with their stunning
hip-hop dance style. 

6. Michael Jackson 
Honestly, I don’t think this pop star needs a separate introduction. The entire globe knows his name and
his crazy moves. “Moonwalk” is one of many moves. At a very young age, Michael showed a stunning
talent for both dance and rhythm. 

Unlike most of the famous dancers, his dancing was not only an accompaniment to music and words. It
was more of a key part of his performance. 

7. Aaliyah

In the ’90s, Aliyah was not only one of the most famous pop and hip-hop singers. BET even ranked her as
one of the top 25 famous dancers of all time. Her fluid, unique style was created by utilizing many hip-
hop styles. 

During her career, she also has shared the stage with popular hip-hop artists like Sean Combs and
Timberland. Unfortunately, in the year 2001, she was killed in a plane crash. 

8. Paula Abdul
Apart from being one of the judges of American Idol, Paula Abdul is one of those famous dancers who
have marked her presence for stunning choreography skills and musical talent. She is also the owner of
several “Best of Dance” Awards. 

Being a hip-hop dancer and choreographer, Paula Abdul organized dance routines for The Jackson’s and
Janet Jackson. She also even choreographed the performance of Tom Hanks in the piano dance in the
movie Big. 

9. MC Hammer
When I am telling you about the famous dancers, and in the section on Hip Hop, I just can not forget to
tell you about MC Hammer. This famous hip-hop artist of all time has showcased his amazing dancing
talent during the ’80s, and 90’s on several platforms. 

He is the one who created a following of The Running Man, The Butterfly, and obviously The Hammer
Dance. Have you heard about culture Hyphy or hyperactive? MC Hammer is the founder. 

10. Beyoncé
Who doesn’t know Beyoncé? Well, everyone does. Apart from being one of the most famous dancers,
we all know how wonderful a vocalist she is. She started her career as a valuable member of Destiny’s
Child. 

She went on to her solo career after the dissolution of the group. Her most hit song, “Single Ladies,”
brought a worldwide dance craze and her popular moves became staples in many hip-hop routines. 

Famous Tap Dancers

Tap is a specific type of dance, which is characterized by metal taps fixed to the toe and heel shoes
striking the floor and that too as a form of percussion. Here are some famous tap dancers. 

11. Sammy Davis, Jr.

Though this amazingly talented personnel has diversified his talent in acting, singing, and also as a
comedian, Sammy Davis, Jr. is more popular for his dancing abilities. His father was a vaudevillian, and
his mother was a tap dancer. 

When he was just 3 years old, he traveled the circuit with his father, and by the age of 4 he started tap
dancing. He is one of the famous black tap dancers. 

12. Fred Astaire

Here is another American dancer, who is famous mostly for his perfectionism, his sense of rhythm. This
famous dancer was also the dance partner and also the love interest of Ginger Rogers. With her, Fred
Astaire had starred in a series of 10 Hollywood musicals. 

Several choreographers and dancers like Michael Jackson, Sammy Davis Jr, Gene Kelly, Mikhail
Baryshnikov, Georgy Hines, George Balanchine, and Rudolf Nureyev acknowledge the influence of
Astaire on them. 

13. Gregory Hines

This American actor, singer, dancer, and choreographer are mostly popular for his excellent tap dancing
abilities. When he was only 2 years old, he started tapping, and by the time he became 5 years old, he
began dancing semi-professionally. 

Hines was not just a dancer; he was an improviser and did several improvisations on tap sounds, tap
steps, and tap rhythm. This amazing dancer also experimented with a totally new style, jazz, fusing tap,
postmodern dance, and new music into his unique style. 

14. Savion Glover

However, the world mostly knows him as an all-rounder, but he started his journey as a tap prodigy. At
the age of 11, Savion had made his debut in the Tap Dance Kid. For his amazing performance in “Black
and Blue,” he received a nomination for the Tony Award. 

The ground-shaking musical ring in `Bring in ‘da Funk, and Bring in ‘da Noise, which he starred and
choreographed, also helped bring Tap into the contemporary mainstream.  

15. Chloe Arnold

Chloe Arnold is one of the famous tap dancers who got a nomination in the Emmy Awards. She has also
worked in television and several films. Chloe Arnol and his sister Maud are the founders of the DC Tap
Festival. 

However, most probably, she is famous for the Syncopated Ladies, her all-female-tap ensemble. It is a
group of many famous female dancers. 

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Famous Jazz Dancers

When it comes to jazz dance, it is all about a combination of classical ballet along with modern dance
with the current form of popular dance. Now, we will talk about some really famous jazz dancers of all
time. 

16. Gene Kelly

This multi-talented personnel is an actor, director, singer, choreographer, dancer, and also producer at
the same time. He is the one which included classical ballet techniques with the dance form Jazz. So, he
has gained excellence in both jazz and ballet. 

His award-winning dance films, ‘Singing in the Rain’ and ‘On the Town,’ have brought him popularity.
Kelly also choreographed for a list of movies like ‘An American in Paris,’ ‘On the Town,’ ‘Me and my Girl’,
and many more. 

17. Lester Horton

Tribal dance forms fascinated Lester Horton. He emphasized a whole-body approach that involves body
awareness, flexibility, and strength coordination. This particular Horton’s technique was shown in his
masterpieces ‘Cry’ and ‘Revelations.’

18. Jack Cole

This multi-talented jazz dancer is also a choreographer and a theatre director. Jack Cole is considered
the “father of jazz dance technique.” Jack combined jazz steps with the modern dance form and created
his unique style full of emotions. 

He used to utilize moves from other dance forms, such as African and Caribbean rhythms, Bharat
Natyam, which is an Indian classical dance form, and ballet. His pliés, hip movements, acrobatic
movements, East Indian Isolation, and intricate floor movements have become his signature styles. 

19. Mia Michaels

Mia Michaels is famous for her powerful moves based on jazz traditions. She is one of the famous
dancers to also judge the television reality show named ‘So You Think You Can Dance.’

Mia had also choreographed ‘Cirque du Soleil’ for popular celebrities like Celina Dion, Madonna, and
Ricky Martin. She has also been the inspiration for Madonna, Michael Jackson, Ricky Martin, and many
more dancers, and they incorporate Jazz into their performances. 

20. Michael Bennett

Michael Bennett had studied several dance forms. Apart from being a trained dancer, he was also a
writer, choreographer, and director. ‘A Chorus Line’ is written, co-produced, and also choreographed by
him. This movie won nine Tony Awards. 

Michael Bennett is also the owner of a Pulitzer Prize for drama. For ‘Dream Girls’, he has received more
Tony Awards. 

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Some Other Notable Names In The World Of Dance

When it comes to expressing oneself through dancing, there are several names, which should be
included in the list. But as we are trying to keep readers friendly and also want to offer as much
information as possible, we include another 10 names here. Let’s find out who they are. 

21. Madonna
The “Queen of Pop,” Madonna is a singer, songwriter, actress, and obviously a talented dancer. With a
scholarship at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, she started her journey as a dancer. 

In her shows and videos, she later turned out as one of the pioneer professional dancers. Madonna also
has been one of the judges of “So You Think You Can Dance,” which is a famous television dance show.