List of dances facts for kids

This article is a big list of different types of dances from all over the world! Dancing is a fun way to express yourself, tell stories, and celebrate. It can be a hobby, a sport, or even a part of a culture's history. This list includes many specific dances, and also some larger dance styles that have many related dances within them, like ballet or folk dance.

If you want to find dances grouped by type, you can check out these lists:

• List of dance style categories
• List of ethnic, regional, and folk dances by origin
• List of national dances

What is Dance?

Dancing is when people move their bodies in a rhythmic way, usually to music. It can be a way to show feelings, tell a story, or just have fun. People dance for many reasons, like celebrating, performing, or as a form of exercise. There are thousands of different dances, each with its own steps, music, and history.

Different Kinds of Dances

Dances can be grouped into different types based on their style, where they come from, or how they are performed. Let's explore some of the main categories.

Folk Dances

Folk dances are traditional dances that come from a specific culture or region. They often tell stories about daily life, history, or special events. These dances are usually passed down through generations.

European Folk Dances

• Branle: An old French group dance from the Renaissance period. People would hold hands and move in a circle or line.
• Csárdás: A lively and energetic folk dance from Hungary. It starts slow and gets faster, often with partners spinning and jumping.
• Hora: A popular circle dance found in many countries like Bulgaria, Israel, and Romania. Dancers hold hands and move together in a circle.
• Kolo: A traditional Slavic circle dance where dancers form a chain and move together. It's popular in countries like Serbia and Croatia.
• Polka: A fast and cheerful dance that started in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic). It's danced by couples and is very popular around the world.
• Tarantella: A quick, lively folk dance from Southern Italy. Legend says it was danced to cure the bite of a tarantula spider!

Asian Folk Dances

• Bhangra: A very energetic folk dance from Northern India, especially the Punjab region. It's often danced during harvest festivals and celebrations.
• Bihu dance: A joyful folk dance from Assam, India. It's performed during the Bihu festival, which celebrates the changing seasons.
• Dragon dance: A traditional Chinese dance where a long, colorful dragon puppet is moved by many dancers. It's often seen during Chinese New Year.
• Lion dance: Another traditional Chinese dance, where two dancers act as a lion. It's believed to bring good luck and chase away evil spirits.
• Attan: A national dance of Afghanistan and a traditional dance of the Pashtun people. It's a fast-paced circle dance often performed at weddings and other celebrations.
• Dabke: A lively folk dance from the Middle East, especially the Levant region (like Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine). Dancers form a line and perform stomping and jumping steps.

Other Folk Dances

• Cajun dance: Comes from Louisiana, USA, and is danced to Cajun music. It often involves partners moving together in a relaxed way.
• Gumboot dance: A powerful dance from South Africa, originally created by miners. They would wear rubber boots and use them to make rhythms.
• Haka: A traditional ceremonial dance of the Māori people of New Zealand. It's a powerful group performance involving stomping, shouting, and strong body movements.

Ballroom and Partner Dances

Ballroom dances are social dances that are often danced by couples in formal settings. They are popular in competitions and social events.

• Foxtrot: A smooth and elegant partner dance, known for its flowing movements across the dance floor.
• Jive: A very energetic and bouncy dance, part of the swing dance family. It's fast and fun!
• Quickstep: A quick and lively ballroom dance, similar to the foxtrot but much faster, with quick steps and turns.
• Tango: A passionate and dramatic partner dance that started in Argentina. It's known for its close embrace and sharp, sudden movements.
• Waltz: A classic and graceful partner dance with a smooth, turning movement. It's often danced to slow, romantic music.
• Cha-cha-cha: A lively and rhythmic Latin American dance from Cuba. It's known for its "cha-cha-cha" sound made by the dancers' feet.
• Rumba: A slow and romantic Latin American dance, also from Cuba. It's often called the "dance of love."
• Salsa: A popular and energetic Latin dance that combines many styles. It's danced in clubs all over the world and involves lots of spins and turns.
• Swing: A family of dances that developed with swing music. It includes dances like the Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing, and West Coast Swing, all known for their lively, bouncy feel.

Street and Hip Hop Dances

Street dances are styles that developed outside of dance studios, often in urban areas. Hip hop dance is a big part of this category.

• Breakdancing (B-Boying): An athletic and acrobatic dance style that started in the Bronx, New York. It includes moves like spins, freezes, and power moves.
• Krumping: A very expressive and energetic dance style that involves free, expressive, and highly energetic movement.
• Locking: A funk dance style that involves freezing in a position and then moving again, almost like locking and unlocking your body.
• Popping: A funk dance style where dancers quickly contract and relax their muscles to create a jerking effect, called a "pop" or "hit."
• Dougie: A popular hip hop dance that involves a smooth, swaying motion and arm movements.
• Floss: A dance where you swing your arms from side to side, behind your back, while moving your hips in the opposite direction.

Classical and Theatrical Dances

These dances are often performed on a stage and require a lot of training and skill.

• Ballet: A classical dance form known for its grace, precision, and elaborate techniques. Dancers often wear special shoes called pointe shoes.
• Bharatanatyam: One of the oldest classical Indian dance forms. It's known for its beautiful hand gestures, facial expressions, and rhythmic footwork.
• Kathak: Another classical Indian dance, known for its fast spins and intricate footwork, often accompanied by storytelling.
• Contemporary dance: A modern dance style that combines elements of ballet, jazz, and modern dance. It focuses on fluid movements and expressing emotions.
• Jazz dance: A lively and energetic dance style that developed alongside jazz music. It's known for its sharp movements, turns, and jumps.
• Tap dance: A dance style where dancers wear special shoes with metal taps on the heels and toes. They use their feet to create rhythmic sounds.

Other Unique Dances

• Belly dance: A captivating dance style with origins in the Middle East. It focuses on fluid movements of the torso, hips, and arms.
• Capoeira: A unique Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, acrobatics, and dance. It's often performed in a circle.
• Line dance: A dance where people dance in lines without partners, performing a set sequence of steps. The Electric Slide is a famous example.
• Moonwalk: A famous dance move where a dancer appears to be gliding backward while moving forwards. Michael Jackson made it very popular.
• Zumba: A fitness program that combines Latin and international music with dance moves. It's a fun way to exercise!

See also

• Glossary of dance moves
• Index of dance articles
• Outline of dance, a list of general dance topics in our world today and from history.