Dance is a performance with body as a basic tool. It’s an expression of once feeling. Various dance forms of the world are an important aspect of art and culture. There are many dance styles in the world. The beauty of traditional dance forms is still unmatchable today. Western dances have also evolved much. Other dance style are developed from the 20th century. The dance types like jazz, hip hop and other special dance forms are very famous. Many of these dances are very popular and famous worldwide. Let’s enrich our knowledge with information on top 10 famous dance style in the world.
#1 Hip hop Dance
Today’s world has a hip hop culture. So at top position in dance style ranking is the hip hop dance. It’s a street dance style for hip hop music. It is influenced by a wide range of styles of the 1970s. Dance crews in the United States has made the hip hop dance style much popular. The commercialization of hip-hop dance continued into the 1990s and 2000s. Several television shows and movies introduce the dance style to the world. The hip hop dance style primary includes Breaking, Locking, and Popping. It is often freestyle in nature, Which makes Hip hop dance different from other dance style.
#2 Ballet Dance
The Ballet, which is the most difficult dance style, is one of the top famous dance form of the world. To be a famous Ballet dancer is not a cup of tea for every one. It takes a lot of time, training, and effort to become a ballet dancer. Learning a single ballet step takes lots of dedication. But once learned, they are beautiful to watch. The first ballet dancers were all men. The pointed ballet shoes are made by hands. Which the Ballerinas can wear it for few days only. Two to three pairs per week. People around the world love to dance and watch the beautiful ballet dance style.
#3 Tap Dance
Tap dance is an indigenous American dance style. Tap dance is a form of dance characterized by using the sounds of tap shoes striking the floor. Rhythm (jazz) tap and Broadway tap are two major variations of the famous tap dance form. The sound is made by shoes that have a metal “tap” on the heel and toe. Tap dance choreography starts on the eighth beat, or between the eighth and the first count. The best tap dancer in history is Eleanor Powell. She was even named the World’s Greatest Tap Dancer by the Dance Masters of America in 1965.
#4 Kathak Dance
Kathak is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. It is famous worldwide. The Vedic Sanskrit word Katha means “story”. The Kathakars communicated stories from the great epics and ancient mythology. Their hand movements & facial expressions are important in explaining story through the dance. Best Kathak dancers are Pandit Birju Maharaj, Lachu Maharaj, Shambu Maharaj, Shovna Narayan. A Kathak artist generally wraps the sari for the performance. Kathak, a top class dance form, can be learned in 7 to 10 years. Although, it’s an endless learning.
#5 Bharatanatyam Dance
Bharatanatyam is a popular classical dance form in South India. The meaning of Bharathanatyam is as following. Bha means emotion (Bhava), Ra means music (Raaga), Ta meaning rhythm (Taal) and Natyam meaning dance. Lord Shiva is considered the god of this dance form. Today, it is one of the most popular and widely performed dance styles. The dance style is practiced by male and female dancers all over the world. Dancers wear costumes made of silk saris with gold zari embroidery designs. Bharatanatyam saris are known as Kalakshethra saris. Kalakshetra style is a modern and a famous style of Bharatanatyam. Over the decades, Bharatanatyam dance style gained more professional practitioners. Alarmel Valli, Malavika Sarukkai, Rama Vaidyanathan and Narthaki Nataraj are well-known dancers.
#6 Swing Dance
Swing dancing is started in America in the late 1920s. The dance was first created by African-American kids during the Harlem Renaissance. It is One of the few forms of couples dances. It uses a combination of hand positions like one hand, two hand, cross hand, handshake form dancing. Swing dance is characterized by lots of swinging, flipping, and throwing of dancers. It is a non-progressive dance style, mostly performed in one spot. Swing is a quick, fast-paced dance. East Coast Swing tends to be the easiest form of the Swing dance to learn. It is a popular dance for any crowded dance floor in the world.
#7 Kuchipudi Dance
Kuchipudi is one of the top Dance Form Worshiping Lord Krishna. The dance form originates from a village named Kuchipudi. The Kuchipudi village is located in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Kuchipudi is famous for quick footwork, dramatic characterization, expressive eye movements & spirited narrative. This dance is a combination of Tandava dance form and Lasya dance style.
Raja, Radha, and Kaushalaya Reddy are famous Kuchipudi dancers. They are honored with the third and the fourth-highest civilian awards of India. The traditional Kuchipudi was performed by all males. They wear a “dhoti” a single pleated piece of cloth hanging down from the waist. A dancer in a female role wear a Sari with light makeup.
#8 Jazz Dance
Jazz dance is a performance dance. Jack Cole founded jazz dance. Jazz style is high-energy dance with liveliness. During the 1940s, jazz dance was influenced by ballet and modern dance. Originated in Africa and become famous worldwide. It combines music and dance as a single expression. Representing Individualism of style within a group style. This form of dance became popular in early America and has continued to evolve. Jazz dancers can wear pantyhose and leotards. Custom for dance may be shorts or capris and form-fitting tops such as a t-shirt or tank top. Famous jazz dancers are Lester Horton, Katherine Dunham, Ashley Wallen, Matt Mattox.
#9 Modern Dance
Modern dance is a broad genre of western concert or theatrical dance. Various dance styles includes ballet, folk, ethnic, religious, and social dancing. Modern dance uses a variety of movements. It formulates a unique style. The dance style arose out of Europe and the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Modern dance has evolved with each subsequent generation of participating artists. Modern dance from 1990 to the present has taken a different approach. It has increased popularity with time. Isadora Duncan is considered as the founding mother of American modern dance.
#10 Salsa Dance
The last in the list of top 10 international dance style is Salsa. It is a Latin dance, associated with the music. Salsa is a partnered dance. Here, the lead takes the follower through a series of spins and turn patterns to music. In the late 1960s, It was developed by Puerto Ricans and Cubans. The two main styles of salsa are linear and circular. Dance costumes called as dance wear is clothing commonly worn by dancers. Over the years, different styles of salsa dancing have evolved around the world. Movements of others to create new fusions of dance styles.
There are various reasons for developing different styles of dancing. The beat of music makes a dancer to move differently. The occasion and the purpose makes the body movements. The feeling and expression make a different look to the audience. The likeness of people changes with time. But there are few dance style listed above which are famous worldwide. So express your love to your favorite dance style by writing comments to us.
