Some people have rhythm in their blood while others are born with two left feet. Regardless, dance is a craft that can be learned and it also has a wide variety of different styles. So, there's really no excuse not to get up and start that dance class you've been dreaming of as there is something for everybody. Dances have evolved from all corners of the globe and many different cultures – we've collected the most popular in this guide.
Here is the list of types of dancing throughout the world:
- Rock Music Dancing
- Jazz
- Swing Dancing
- Urban Dance Styles
- Salsa Dancing
- Tap Dance
- Ballroom Dancing
- Hip Hop
- Contemporary Dance
- Samba
- Modern Dance
- Ballet
- Irish Dance
- Folk
Rock Music Dancing
🕰️ Origin: 1950s-1960s, United States
📝 Description: Evolved from rock 'n' roll music, characterized by high energy and acrobatic moves.
Rock is one of the most popular music genres in the country. And it must be said that, even as a beginner, you can easily cause a stir on the dance floor when some rock music comes on. A popular dance event, rock and roll dancing if attracting more and more people every year.
Is this the type of dance for you? Even if it seems difficult to find the right pace, once the basics of rock n'roll dance have been covered, the advantage is that you can create your own style by varying the moves, from simple steps to more complex ones.
Four-count rock and six-count rock are the main forms. Four-count is performed to 4-count music and one foot is standing on each beat. Six-count rock is also played on 6-count music, but during the 6-step, the dancers do 8 steps. That's what makes this dance so fast and lively.
At the start, it takes a little practice to get the hang of the footwork and be able to dance naturally and smoothly. Then, it's time to have some fun discovering the rock moves you can perform with your dance partner. There are plenty to choose from. There are actually too many to count. Some are very complex, but others are easier to learn.
Jazz
🕰️ Origin: Early 20th century, United States
📝 Description: A dynamic, rhythm-driven dance style with roots in African and European forms.
Jazz dance originated alongside jazz music in the early 20th century, blending African and European influences. Known for its rhythm-driven movements and dynamic style, jazz is a staple in theater and movies. Think La La Land for an example! Way before Ryan Gosling, Bob Fosse and Jack Cole helped shape its theatrical and performance flair.
Today, jazz dance classes are a favorite for students interested in combining technical skill with creative freedom. Dance studios and performing arts programs frequently offer jazz lessons for both beginners and advanced dancers. If jazz music is your thing then you might consider jazz dancing!
Swing Dancing
🕰️ Origin: 1920s-1930s, United States
📝 Description: Energetic and social, often featuring spins and improvisation to jazz music.
Swing dance is another style with a story - it burst onto the scene during the 1920s and 1930s as jazz music became wildly popular. Rooted in African American culture, this lively and energetic style includes forms like the Lindy Hop, Charleston, and Balboa.
Swing dancing is known to be a social affair, often performed in pairs, and is loved for its improvisational nature and high-energy spins and flips. Enthusiasts can find swing nights at clubs or learn through lessons offered by dance schools and festivals. A lot of the dances are incredibly upbeat and can be physically demanding.
Urban Dance Styles
🕰️ Origin: Late 20th century, Global
📝 Description: A broad term for street-style dances like krumping and waacking, often tied to hip hop culture.
As in all areas of life, trends evolve, fashions come and go. Taking urban dance classes like hip hop will help you improve your dancing skills and standout on the dance floor (for the right reasons). It is harder to categorize these urban style as they can certainly change quickly.
Why not watch videos of your favorite artists and trend setters to discover new styles. Drawing inspiration from other dances can help you perfect your technique and find your own style for the next time you go to a club. Among urban dances there are several different styles each with highly stylized moves:
- Hip-hop: boogaloo, hype, krump, or new-school hip hop
- Twerking: a popular trend which came from music videos,
- The shuffle: is known for its very fast footwork,
- Voguing: also very current, this style of dance which borrows poses from the catwalk, originated from the gay community in the States but has since spread all over the world.
Salsa Dancing
🕰️ Origin: 1960s, New York City, United States
📝 Description: A lively partner dance blending Afro-Cuban and Latin American influences.
Undeniably one of the most renowned styles of dance in the world, Salsa is a seductive and energetic dance. Sala lessons are a great way to socialize and make friends as well as develop intimacy with a partner.
It’s not uncommon at a salsa lesson to frequently change dancing partner, making it a great way to meet new people. There are many variations of salsa dancing, each with their own specific technique and advantages.
Although widely acknowledged as a Latin dance, salsa actually originated in the Caribbean, evolving primarily from Cuban dance forms such as the Cha Cha and Mambo. This type of dance is subject to influence and change to this day.
It is a great, passionate dance style for couples and some even take classes together.
As salsa is such a lively dance, learning salsa may throw you out of your comfort zone. However, going to dance classes or finding a private dance instructor can help you grow in confidence, stay in shape and have fun in the process! You will find you are more toned, flexible and strong with regular salsa lessons.
Tap Dance
🕰️ Origin: 19th century, United States
📝 Description: Features percussive footwork using metal-soled shoes to create rhythmic sounds.
Ever wanted to dance like movie stars Fred Astaire or Ginger Rogers? If so, tap dance is the one for you. A fun, lively and upbeat number, tap dancing classes are a great way to stay active and have fun. Although it originated in America, tap dancing has English, Irish, Scottish and even African influences. Tap began to emerge towards the end of the 19th century, but really took off in the 1920s when people started attaching taps to the soles of their shoes.
Tap wasn’t just reserved for the big screen, dancers performed at stage shows and even in nightclubs. The ubiquitous nature of tap is still the case today with dance classes available up and down the country. Budding dancers can enroll at a dance class, school or even find lessons online. With plenty of dance centres specializing in tap dancing across the country, there is plenty of options for beginners and experts alike.
Ballroom Dancing
🕰️ Origin: 16th century, Western Europe
📝 Description: A formal dance style, performed in pairs, covering styles like waltz and tango.
Not many styles of dance are as romantic, elegant and diverse as ballroom. This popular dance encompasses a wide range of international dances. At ballroom dance lessons you can learn a wide variety of dance moves.
Many people tend to think of ballroom as a slow and outdated form of dance, however, ballroom isn’t just for your wedding day. You can see forms of ballroom everywhere from the society events to nightclubs. Ballroom became popular very quickly as a way for young people to socialize and compete in friendly competition. Thanks to shows like Dancing with the Stars, the popularity of ballroom dance has rocketed in recent years.
Hip Hop
🕰️ Origin: 1970s, Bronx, New York
📝 Description: A highly expressive dance featuring breaking, popping, and locking.
Hip hop dance emerged in the Bronx during the 1970s as part of a broader cultural movement that included music with breakbeats and the hip hop signatures we know today. We also saw a whole lot of graffiti, and DJing.
Hip hop dance styles, like breaking, popping, and locking, emphasize rhythm, improvisation, and personal expression. Hip hop quickly moved from the streets to the stage, becoming a global phenomenon featured in movies, competitions, and even fitness programs. Dance studios and community centers often host classes for those eager to learn this dynamic and influential form of dance.
Contemporary Dance
🕰️ Origin: Mid-20th century, Global
📝 Description: A fusion of ballet, jazz, and modern dance focused on fluidity and emotion.
One of the more modern genres of dance, contemporary dance began in the mid 20th century and embraces styles such as ballet, line dancing and folk dancing. Typically misconstrued as freestyle, contemporary dance moves are all about strength and control.
Talent shows like America's Got Talent have showcased many acts performing contemporary dance routines to modern music. Like all contemporary dancers, this craft requires a huge amount of time and effort. Contemporary dance can also be seen at clubs, stage performances, events, talent shows, films, TV and online.
An important element of contemporary dance is the idea of storytelling through movement. The music chosen must strongly relate to the choreography in order to be most effective. Costumes also play a huge role in narrating a story.
Samba
🕰️ Origin: Brazil, 19th century
📝 Description: A joyful, fast-paced dance deeply tied to Carnival and Brazilian culture.
Samba is a vibrant dance style from Brazil that embodies joy and celebration. Often associated with Carnival, samba features fast-paced footwork and lively, rhythmic movements. Its African and Portuguese influences make it a rich cultural expression that has spread worldwide. It is Brazil that most people associate with samba dancing.
Samba classes are common in dance studios and gyms, where it’s also popular as a fitness activity. Whether on the streets of Rio or in a local studio, samba’s infectious energy draws people in. If you have ever seen the dancing at a carnival then you may well have seen people dancing samba style!
Modern Dance
🕰️ Origin: Early 20th century, United States
📝 Description: A reaction to ballet, emphasizing emotion and individuality over strict form.
Modern dance emerged in the early 20th century as a reaction to the rigid structure of ballet. Pioneers like Martha Graham and Isadora Duncan rejected traditional techniques and opting instead for more natural and emotional movements.
This style focuses on individuality and storytelling, allowing dancers to explore themes deeply personal or socially relevant and there is a lot of overlap with contemporary dance. Modern dance classes are widely available at community centers, universities, and professional studios, making it accessible to people of all ages and skill levels. This is not true of some other forms of dancing...
Ballet
🕰️ Origin: Renaissance Italy, 15th century
📝 Description: A graceful, highly technical dance blending, athleticism with storytelling.
Ballet is one of the oldest and most respected forms of dance, tracing its roots back to the courts of Renaissance Italy and flourishing in France under King Louis XIV. Known for its grace and strict technique, ballet tells stories through expressive movement and elaborate choreography. The beauty of ballet lies in its ability to merge athleticism with artistry and storytelling, making it both challenging and mesmerizing (and sell out some big venues when a show comes to town!)
Ballet remains immensely popular worldwide, with companies like the Joffery Ballet and the Juilliard School drawing large audiences. Aspiring dancers typically start young and usually enroll in local studios or schools. Adults can also find beginner classes for fitness or artistic expression but it is very hard to take this up later in life. There are also a lot of demands to be supple and petite in ballet so it doesn't suit every style.
Cause IQ estimates that there are 1,236 ballet companies in the United States.
Irish Dance
🕰️ Origin: Medieval Period, Ireland
📝 Description: Known for rapid footwork and stiff upper bodies, celebrated globally through shows like Riverdance.
Irish dance, with its rapid footwork and rigid upper body, gained worldwide attention through shows like Riverdance. In fact, it is hard to name one work that has been so influential to any of the other genres. Though Riverdance was mainly famous in the 1990s, it helped reinvigorate a dance thats origins date back centuries, rooted in Irish traditions and music.
Danced in both hard and soft shoes, Irish dance can be solo or group-based, with intricate formations and steps. Many schools, especially in areas with large Irish communities, offer lessons for children and adults. Competitions, known as feiseanna, are a major part of the culture. If you're not in Ireland, the lessons can be harder to find, of course!
Folk
🕰️ Origin: Varied (Region and Cultural Origins)
📝 Description: Reflects cultural traditions through movements and music tied to specific regions.
Folk dance is deeply tied to cultural traditions, often reflecting the history, stories, and customs of a particular region. Whether it’s the intricate footwork of Eastern European dances or the vibrant displays of Latin American folklore, folk dance celebrates community and heritage. You can sense the history when watching one of these dances.
These dances are often performed at festivals or social gatherings and have a part in the society of countries. Many cultural organizations and community centers offer opportunities to learn folk dances, making it a great way to connect with one’s roots or explore new traditions.
Learning to Dance with Superprof
Why not take a group lesson in whatever dance style you are interested in, salsa, bachata, waltz, madison, cha cha cha, acrobatic rock, pole, Latin, oriental, Argentine tango, country... The list never ends! One thing is for certain: you have not mastered all of the dances out there. Superprof provides you with tutors in all forms of dance, allowing you to take a trial class at a dance school or even a private lesson from home.
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