Types of Dance

Types Of Dance
1. Ballet
Graceful, elegant, precise, delicate: if these words describe you (or you wish they
did), ballet might be the perfect fit.
With classical European roots and a vocabulary that’s still completely French, ballet has
a long tradition of developing dancers who look weightless and effortless as they pull off
difficult spins, extensions, and footwork.
But it’s far from easy, so if you fall in love with formal ballet, you’ll need to decide
whether you want to make a serious commitment. Every professional ballet dancer has
years of intense training behind him or her.
Even if you don’t have perfect posture or long, flexible legs, ballet’s structure and
symmetry translates easily into other schools of dance. Ballet fusion, for example, takes
musical and choreographic cues from wildly different genres, infusing traditional lines
with influences that range from modern dance to Motown.
Julia Stiles helped popularize this notion in Save the Last Dance (2001). Her character’s
ballet dancing finally came alive when she borrowed moves from hip hop, winning
fictional judges’ approval and sending kids scrambling to studios with alternative
approaches.
2. Contemporary, Modern, and Jazz
Modern schools might look more casual than ballet, but these types of dance classes
also incorporate very careful, specific choreography. Modern dance actually emerged a
long time ago, when choreographers learned to treat the human body as a versatile tool
that can be shaped and molded through dance.
From Martha Graham’s whole-body breathing exercises to today’s high-
concept, contemporary performances, modern dance continues to challenge traditional
notions of movement and art.
Meanwhile, jazz dance has also evolved throughout the decades, following and
embodying popular music trends. From New Orleans jazz clubs to Michael Jackson’s
iconic music videos, jazz dance is still a dynamic, current, and high-energy option that’s
perfect for music lovers and natural athletes.
3. Tap Dancing
Singing and acting aren’t the only performing arts that can land you on a Broadway
stage, and your mouth isn’t the only body part capable of telling a compelling story. If
you’re a naturally expressive person, your friends have probably noticed that you “talk”
with your hands and facial expressions, or even with your whole body.
Tap dance is basically the same thing: acting out the details and emotions of stories
with your feet. As you learn to control and coordinate the movement of your toes and
heels, your internal rhythm and balance will transform for the better. No wonder Fred
Astaire couldn’t get enough!
4. Theatrical Dance
Theatrical instruction is an excellent way to channel physical energy and tap into your
natural storytelling talents. It’s one of the best types of dance for those who thrive on
constant sensory stimulation; props, costumes, music, and backgrounds are important
elements of the theatrical dance performance.
Of course, choreographers also incorporate these to complement a ballet’s themes —
or to highlight a jazz routine’s musical accompaniment — but for theatrical purposes,
the colors and textures onstage are often just as important as the choreography.
5. Ballroom, Swing, and Other Pairs Dancing
One of the besttypes of dance classes for couples, ballroom dancing also has massive
popular appeal!
From Dancing with the Stars to Silver Linings Playbook, ballroom dancing has officially
arrived on the pop culture stage. If you’re revisiting your dancing shoes as an adult, this
is a great place to start.
As you learn foot sequences and how to lead or follow, your instructor will help fine-tune
your posture and sense of rhythm. These dance lessons are usually more casual than
solo sessions in a professional studio, and because students have to pair off to
rehearse their steps, you get the added bonus of socializing. Classes can be romantic
bonding experiences for couples, or give single students a chance to connect with new
friends.
6. Hip Hop Dance Styles
Hip hop dance stylesare some of the most populartypes of dance fitness classes– and
for good reason! It’s hard to find a dance style that will give you quite as good of a
workout as this one.
Hip hopis also a popular dance style for children. It’s a great way for them to learn the
fundamentals of dance, all while having fun. Each unique dance tells its own story,
doing so in an explosive, energized fashion.
After you or your child learn the basics of hip hop, you can even move on to
breakdancing – a freestyle form of hip hop that’s even more fun to learn.
7. Latin Dance Styles
There are many different types of Latin dance classes you can take, too. These popular
club and ballroom dances spread throughout Europe in the 19th century and became
extremely popular – now, they are ingrained incultural traditionsaround the world.
They include the classic Latin ballroom styles we know and love today, such as samba,
rumba, cha-cha-cha, jive, and paso doble, as well as the more social Latin dances like
tango, mambo, salsa, merengue, and reggaeton.

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