What types of dances are there, a list of modern ones. Electro is a youth direction. Which direction to choose

At the dawn of his history, ancient man, who was destined only centuries later to master coherent speech, counting, writing and notes, already expressed his feelings, hopes and intentions with rhythmic ritual dance. This is our nature.

Over time, hundreds, thousands of different types of dances appeared: man developed, and the forms of his self-expression became more refined. But the deep emotionality of the action and the excellent physical form of the dancers remained unchanged. So dance is also health.

There are many types of dances, let's look at the most famous of them.

Argentine tango– this name unites about a dozen different variations of tango. This lively dance, based on improvisation, a fusion of traditions, steps, and emotions, appeared at the end of the 19th century, danced by emigrants.

Bolero – Spanish dance, full of inner energy and passion, the melody of this dance is played by a guitar and, of course, you can’t do without castanets.

Break originated in one of most dangerous areas New York - South Bronx in the 60s of the last century. Requiring remarkable physical training, plasticity and a sense of rhythm, breaking is an aggressive dance. Still the most the right way for break dancers to demonstrate their skills is a battle (dance battle).

Waltz – dance in ¾ time, originates in Europe at the end of the 18th century. Among conservative Englishmen, the newfangled dance caused a storm of protest: before this, a man and a woman had never danced hugging each other. However, the “daring” waltz, thanks to its grace and beauty, survived persecution and became a classic. Today, two types of this beautiful dance are included in the European ballroom dancing competition program.

Viennese Waltz – one of the most sophisticated and popular ballroom dances in Europe for many years. Included in the European ballroom dancing competition program. It uses and alternates only seven figures.

Gallop. This ballroom dance, which is considered to have originated in Germany, was incredibly popular in the 19th century. It was performed in rapid motion, in leaps and bounds. Nowadays, the performance of the gallop can be seen in various operettas, to which it is very close in spirit.

Gopak –"Gop!" – the brave Ukrainian boys shouted while dancing, this exclamation gave the name to the most famous national dance. This thing is danced energetically, squatting, with high swings of the legs. And definitely - in trousers.

Zhiga- an ancient dance of sailors, cheerful, cheerful and relaxed. The music flows easily, like the singing of a small bird. Over time, the jig even penetrated the works of serious composers, without losing, however, its comical sound.

Quadrille – this “original Russian” couples dance actually French, it originated in the 18th century, and in the 19th it became very popular in Russia. And if at first it was a “salon” dance, then soon square dance became widespread among the people. Today there are Russian, Ukrainian and even American square dancing. Couples can be located on the sides of the “square” and move diagonally or crosswise, two lines of dancers can move towards each other - there are a great variety of patterns, but enthusiasm and fun remain unchanged.

Cancan. This dance appeared at the beginning of the 20th century in theaters and was intended to figuratively show the audience a brothel . However, everyone liked the parade of beauties sparklingly lifting up their skirts so much that the cancan quickly turned into a joke folk dance. Incendiary music and dazzling smiles - the cancan is still loved by audiences and is not threatened by old age.

Quick step – compulsory dance of the European ballroom dancing program. This is a fast foxtrot, a combination of “sliding” movements of dancers with lightning-fast changes of poses, jumps, and bends. The dance requires mobility and lightness from the performers.

Conga – This is a Cuban dance, it is performed by a line of dancers in a march rhythm. And this action resembles a parade. However, this dance originates from “kamparas” - parades.

Mazurka – a rhythmic Polish dance that was first known as a folk dance and later became a ballroom dance. The main thing here is to hit your heels rhythmically.

Minuet in the 16th-18th centuries it was one of the most popular dances. He, as they say, came out of the people. And “came to the court” in royal palaces. Under Louis XIV, the minuet became the favorite dance of the court nobility. Having, of course, lost its spontaneity and simplicity, the dance became solemn and full of grandeur.

Polonaise originally from Poland. This is a majestic procession dance: couples walk at a moderate pace geometric figures in a strictly established manner. It originated in the 15th century as traditional dance at village weddings, and later “moved” to palaces.

Polka – A fast and lively folk dance in 2/4 time, despite its name, did not appear in Poland, but in the Czech Republic in the 19th century. And it got its name from the Czech word for “half” because of the small “half” steps.

Rumba Originally from Cuba, it is often mistakenly considered a dance of love, and this is not surprising, because it is so sensual and erotic. In fact, this is a dance about loneliness and unrequited love, and the erotic overtones are explained by the fact that rumba used to be a wedding dance. In addition to impeccable technique, rumba requires from its performers an ideal sense of rhythm and artistry.

Salsa- Latin American couple dance, it is expressive and rich in improvisation. Dance-flirt, dance-game, it carries unique emotions and sensations.

Samba– this Brazilian dance is included in the Latin American ballroom dance program. He, like many others, can be easily taught by the St. Petersburg dance school. The fiery samba combines African rhythms with Spanish and Portuguese motifs.

Tango- An ancient Argentine dance with a clear rhythm. The partners' movements are synchronous and expressive. This dance is about love, passion, jealousy and again about love. Juan Carlos Copes said it best: “Tango is four legs, two heads and one heart.”

Belly dance - a mesmerizing spectacle that combines strength, plasticity, grace and sexuality. The dance itself is incredibly beautiful, and its performers, in addition to the attention of the opposite sex, also acquire beautiful forms: this dance increases the muscle tone of the waist and hips.

Tarantella – Southern Italian folk dance, danced both in pairs and solo, elegantly, gracefully and rhythmically. Often hot Italians, while dancing, speed up the tempo - who will out-dance whom, and here the task of the musicians is to keep up with the dancers.

Foxtrot. Its full name is “slow foxtrot”, named after the creator of this amazingly beautiful dance - Harry Fox. This dance appeared in 1912 (anniversary!). Sliding steps, extraordinary lightness, airiness - these are the signs of a foxtrot. The speed of the steps in the foxtrot changes, creating a huge number of rhythmic combinations. Despite its apparent ease, the foxtrot is one of the most difficult dances to learn.

Charleston. I gave this dance a name famous city in South Carolina. A song with that name debuted in one of the musicals in the 20s of the last century, and the dance conquered America and then the whole world. As expected, in those days he was considered immoral and indecent.

Cha-cha-cha - a playful, cheerful and very effective dance of the Latin American ballroom dance program. Having learned even a few steps of this dance, you can already make drawings and surprise your friends with your dancing ability. This is the youngest of Latin American dances(it appeared only in the 50s of the last century), perhaps that is why it is so catchy and frivolous.

Whichever of the many styles you choose, you need to remember that the main thing in dance is that the one who dances it should be happy about it.

An art such as dance began to develop at the dawn of humanity. Primitive tribes had their own special ritual dances, which were an important part of their traditions and existence. Their descendants, who began to build the first states, turned these gestures into part of the sovereign symbols. Thus, the first types of dances appeared, which to a greater extent testified to the origin of man, his roots. Today people dance everywhere, and their movements are no longer limited by any boundaries determined by the state. Well, let's take a closer look at what types of dances exist in certain parts of the planet and how they become popular all over the world.

What is dance

This term refers to a type of art in which artistic images are conveyed through plastic and rhythmic body movements. Any dance is inextricably linked with a certain music that suits its style. During this “ritual”, certain positions of the person’s body, the figures that he can show, and transitions from one pose to another are very important. Considering what types of dances there are in our time, it is easy to assume that there are simply countless numbers of such figures and movements. That is why they are divided into categories, which largely depend on the place of origin of a particular dance, as well as on its other features (pairs, group, single, etc.).

The history of the origins of dance art

Even during the existence of primitive tribes, the earliest types of dances arose. They were given names depending on the emotions they accompanied. For example, a tribe might try to bring rain after a long drought, and for this purpose a special ritual was composed, during which people moved in a certain way. Through rhythmic body movements, they thanked their gods, welcomed the birth of children and saw off their deceased ancestors. As an art form, dance was founded in the period of antiquity. At this time, special choreographic performances dedicated to the gods began to appear in Greece and Rome. At the same time, the very first oriental types of dances developed in Babylon, Assyria, the Persian kingdom and other Asian countries. In the Middle Ages, this art found itself beyond the line of legality due to the spiritual views of mankind. But with the advent of the Renaissance, it began to develop and improve again. In the 16th century, a type of choreography called ballet appeared, which soon became a separate art form.

Classics and its variations

Professional dancers training this art from an early age, they initially master classical dancing. Their types depend on which program is taken as a basis - European or Latin. These two subgroups are united by good old classical choreography, which has much in common with ballet. The bottom line is that rehearsals take place precisely under classical music, dancers perform stretches, study positions, plie, pique and other choreographic techniques. In the future, the quality of the dance will depend precisely on the purity and correctness of all these movements.

European program

Slow waltz. This golden classic dance, which is always accompanied by appropriate music in three quarters. For each beat, dancers take three steps, with the first being the main one, the second determining the angle of rotation, and the third being an auxiliary one, allowing the weight to be transferred to the other leg.
Tango. It was originally an Argentine folk dance, but later became incredibly popular all over the world and moved into the category of European classics. Its essence lies in the fact that two partners move energetically and rhythmically to the appropriate music (it is also called tango).
Viennese Waltz. This is a kind of analogy to a simple waltz, only it is danced a little faster and more energetically.
Foxtrot. It's fast and bright dance, which is performed both in pairs and in group mode. It was invented by Harry Fox (hence the name) in the early 20th century, and its popularity has not waned since then.
Quickstep. This is the fastest dance from the European classics. It is performed in 4/4 rhythm, and there are as many as 50 bars per minute. It takes years of practice and grueling training to dance the foxtrot properly. It is important that all movements look easy, relaxed, and performed with incredible precision.

Latin American program

Popular types of dances that today often go beyond the classics will be listed here. Based on them, a wide variety of variations are created to simplify the choreography and make these dances accessible to everyone.

Samba. Brazilian dance, which arose from the fusion of African and Portuguese traditions. It is danced in 2/4 time signature, with up to 54 bars per minute. In the classical version, it is performed to the beat of drums or other Latin percussion instruments.
Cha-cha-cha. Characterized by much slower choreography. The time signature is 4/4, there are 30 bars per minute. The dance is most popular in Cuba, where it originated in the 20s of the last century. Today it is included in the classical dance program.
Rumba. The slowest and most intimate dance, which is always performed in pairs. Accuracy is not important here, as in other types of choreography. It is only important that the partners’ poses are very beautiful, that they form unique figures, and at the same time, each of their movements should be as flexible as possible.
Paso Doble. This dance has its roots in Spanish bullfighting. Here the partner often portrays a bullfighter, and his partner - a cloak. The essence of the choreography is the double step (hence the name).
Jive. African-American choreography, which also arose in the 20th century and became widespread in the United States. Jive is danced in swing mode, but at the same time it is very different from its modern analogue of the same name. Time signature - 4/4, number of beats per minute - 44.

Ballet

Everything is now existing species dances are more or less based on ballet. This art officially separated from general choreography in the 17th century, when the first French ballet school. What are the features of ballet? Here the choreography is inextricably linked with the music and facial expressions of the performers. As a rule, each production has a specific script, which is why it is often called a mini-play. True, in some cases there are also “unscripted” ballets, where dancers simply demonstrate their incomparable and precise skills. Ballet is divided into three categories: romantic, classical and modern. The first is always a mini-play on a love theme ("Romeo and Juliet", "Carmen", etc.). The classic one can personify any plot (for example, “The Nutcracker”), but its important element is choreography based on acrobatics and excellent plasticity. The scope of modern ballet includes different types dancing. There are elements of jive, Latin choreography, and classical music. Distinctive feature is that everyone dances in pointe shoes.

Modern choreography

Nowadays, modern types of dances are popular all over the world, regardless of traditions and religion. Their names are known to everyone, and at the same time almost everyone can learn to perform them. Such body movements do not require special stretching, preparation or natural plasticity. The main thing is to join the rhythm and become one with the music. Let us immediately note that all the dances that will be listed below are the basis for the so-called “club choreography”. These movements are quickly learned and mixed by modern youth, resulting in a unique mix that can be seen in any nightclub in any city in the world.

Modern dance

Tectonic. It arose in the 21st century on the basis of jumpstyle, hip-hop, popping, techno style, etc. Always dancing to fast electronic music.
Strip dance. This is the basis of any striptease, in other words, a dance that may involve further undressing. The essence lies in plastic movements, and also often in interaction with other objects. This is how the famous pool dance, lap dance, etc. were born.
Go go. Erotic dance that does not involve undressing. Aimed at entertaining the crowd in the club. May contain any plastic elements that will correspond to the playing music.
Hakka. A dance that originated in the Netherlands, in hardcore circles. His movements are based on music in this style.
Jumpstyle. The dance, based on jumping, is one of the few modern ones that is danced in pairs. But at the same time, it has a peculiarity - partners should not touch each other.
D'n'B Step. This is exclusively an attribute of the drum and bass style. Choreography always depends on the rhythm and tempo of the music.
Shuffle. The dance originated in Australia and is based on jazz. All movements, in particular the steps characteristic of this style, are performed to electronic fast music at a faster tempo.

Based on the plot of the movie “Step Up”...

After the first part of this wonderful film was released, young people actively began to study all kinds of street dances, which are characterized by freestyle and at the same time incredible plasticity and precision of movements. Let us list their main types, which have already become “street classics”:

Hip-hop. This is a whole cultural movement that originated in the 70s in New York among representatives of the working class. It covers not only unique choreography, but also slang, fashion, behavior and other areas of life. Within the hip-hop culture, there are a wide variety of dance types, more or less difficult to perform. This includes breaking, DJing, MCing, club hip-hop and much more.
Breakdancing, also called b-boying. Initially, it was part of hip-hop culture, and then, due to its uniqueness, it became a separate dance.
Crip Walk. A dance that originated in Los Angeles. Characterized by steps that are performed in the spirit of improvisation, at a very fast pace.
Popping. The dance is based on the rapid contraction and relaxation of muscles, due to which the human body shudders. It is important to observe certain positions and postures in which such movements look most impressive.

In the spirit of folk traditions

In each state, in addition to the flag and anthem, there is another, no less important attribute - dance. Each nation is characterized by its own movements, its own rhythms and tempos that have developed historically. Based on the characteristics of the choreography, you can easily determine what nationality a person is and what country he represents. Such performances are performed mainly in a group, but there are some exceptions when only two partners perform. Now we will look at the types of folk dances that are the most popular all over the world. By the way, some of them became the basis of classical choreography, and some served as an excellent start for the development of street dancing.

Dances of the peoples of the world

Attan is the official folk dance of Afghanistan. It is also performed by many neighboring peoples in various variations.
Hopak - dance of the peoples of Ukraine. It is always performed in national costumes, in a very fast and energetic rhythm. It is characterized by jogging, squats, jumping and other active body movements.
Trepak is a native Russian dance, which is also common in Ukraine. It is always performed in a bipartite meter, and is accompanied by fractional steps and stamping.
Zika is a famous Chechen dance performed exclusively by men. As a rule, it is an accompanying element for important religious events.
Krakowiak is the most famous Polish dance. Performed in a fast rhythm, always with a straight back.
Round dance. A dance-game that was previously popular among many nations. The rules are different everywhere, but the point is that a huge number of people take part in the round dance.
Lezginka is the most famous choreographic performance in the Caucasus. It is danced by Chechens, Armenians, Georgians, Azerbaijanis and many other peoples.

Types of oriental dances

In the east, the art of dance had a completely different development than in the countries of Europe and America. Men here always performed group mini-performances that accompanied some important events. A woman's dance is a kind of sacrament. A wife can dance only for her husband, and alone. This choreographic culture has been widespread for centuries throughout Western Asia, but in each country it has its own characteristics. Therefore, now we will look at what types of dances exist in this or that Eastern state and how they are characteristic.

Turkish. They are always performed in bright costumes, accompanied by fast music. They are characterized by rhythmic movements, very high plasticity and even acrobatics.
Egyptian. This is the most modest oriental choreography. The costumes are restrained, as are the movements, and the music is slow and measured. There is no place for frivolous body movements in Egyptian dances - this is considered debauchery.
Arabic. This is real scope for improvisation and variation. If you know what types of dances there are in the East and how they are performed, you can put all the techniques and techniques together, and you will get an excellent performance in the Arabic style.
Lebanese. The most unique and unusual. They combine elements of Turkish and Egyptian choreography. Therefore, fast and rhythmic movements alternate with slow and measured ones. The action is also characterized by the use of foreign objects (cymbals, canes, etc.).
Persian dance consists of graceful movements that mainly involve the arms, head and long hair.

How did belly dancing come about?

Almost all women in the world dream of mastering this choreographic style, but only a few master it perfectly. Many attribute its origins to the Middle East, but in fact the dance originated in India. Even before the birth of Christ, this custom was transferred from their homeland by the gypsies to Egypt, where it became popular. They began to emerge there different kinds belly dancing, which soon spread throughout the Middle East. Well, let's look at which of them are now the most famous:

Dance with the snake. It requires a combination of flexibility and courage, as well as the ability to handle this animal.
Dance with fire. During the performance, torches, candles, lamps with essential oils and much more can be used that glorifies the cult of fire.
Dance with cymbals. This hand percussion instrument is a relative of the Spanish castanets. Performing rhythmic movements, the dancer accompanies herself.
Raqs el-Sharqi is a belly dance that involves the area from the navel to the hips.
Raqs el-Shamadam is a performance in which a woman dances with a candelabra on her head. Very popular in Egypt.

Types of sports dances

Sports dancing is a kind of analogue of classical ballroom choreography. The difference is that dancers are trained according to a more strict and intensive program, with special emphasis on stretching, precision of movements, and speed of their execution. An important component of any sports dance It is not the beauty of the performance, but the technicality of performing all the movements. In general, this subgroup consists of choreographic productions known to us, among which there are standard European and Latin programs.

Conclusion

We looked at what types of dances exist in different countries, decided on their styles and features. As it turned out, every choreographic performance has its own tempo, rhythm, character of performance. Also, many dances cannot exist without facial expressions, certain costumes, style and even the mood of those who perform them. Therefore, if you are going to master this art, it is important to initially decide which style you like to dance in, and which one is most suitable for you in terms of capabilities and even the structural features of your figure. And in the future, for self-improvement, you will only need diligence and practice. Go for it!

Types of dances taught at the club and in general

Samba

Brazilian dance in two-part time signature; in an expanded sense, the word “samba” is applied to all dances of Brazilian origin. There are two different types sambas: rural samba, which is characterized by sharp syncopation, and urban samba with a smoother rhythm. Samba Carioca ( carioca- one of the names of a resident of Rio de Janeiro) is a stylized urban dance. Samba was introduced into professional music by E. Villa-Lobos and Camargo Guarniero.

Cha-cha-cha (Cha-cha-cha)

The dance, which uses the rhythmic structure of the mambo or rumba, was first performed by the Cuban Orchestra América in 1953. The basic time pattern is slow, slow, fast, fast, slow and the last three rhythmic beats corresponding to the syllables "Cha-cha-cha". In the first recordings of the dance on records, it was called mamba. The rhythmic section gradually grew in size and the dancers adjusted to the new slow rhythm, doubling the time signature on counts of 4 and 1 and replacing the light hip movements with three steps; after four years, the initial rigidity of the model was overcome, and three steps began to be performed with a typically Cuban swing in the hips.

As with most Latin American dances, the charm of the Cha-cha-cha lies not in the intricacy of the movements, but in their grace and naturalness.

Rumba

Contemporary Cuban dance of African-American origin. Rumba is performed in four-beat time, and the rhythmic pattern changes almost in every measure; In general, the rhythm of rumba is characterized by syncopation and repetition.

In the taverns of Havana, Rumba is often performed to the accompaniment of ensembles using improvised materials - for example, bottles, spoons, pots. The main theme of the Rumba is usually eight bars long, with a dominant rhythmic beginning, while the lyrics and melody are in the background. Rumba entered American pop music in the 1930s.

Jive

Jive originated in the 19th century in the southeastern United States, and some believe that it was black, while others believe that it was a war dance of the Seminole Indians. The fate of the reincarnations of this dance is endless: from Ragtime to Swing in the 1910s, to Lindy Hope already in the 1920s, to Jagberg in the 1930s-40s, to rock, boogie in the 1950s, and finally from Bi- Bop is already a modern version of Jive. One of forever fashionable dances, leaving no one indifferent.

Jive is very strongly influenced by dances such as Rock'n'Roll and Juterbug. Jive is sometimes called Six-Step Rock'n'Roll. Jive is very fast and consumes a lot of energy. This is the last dance danced in competition and the dancers must show that they are not tired and are ready to perform it with more effort. The fastest of all ballroom dances.

Paso Doble

"Paso Doble" literally means "double step." Although the Paso Doble is closely associated with Spain, it contains many French terms, which, as some experts point out, reminds us that the Paso Doble was originally a French dance. The militant, restrained rhythm of the Paso Doble, undoubtedly akin to flamenco, conquered the whole of Spain, a country in which bullfighting is considered the most ancient and true tradition of the people.

Spanish culture has always preferred the taste of death, challenge and risk. The Paso Doble is based in part on bullfighting. The partner portrays a bullfighter, and the partner represents his cloak or muleta(a piece of bright red cloth in the hands of a matador), sometimes - a second bullfighter, and very rarely - a bull, usually defeated by the final blow. The character of the music corresponds to the procession before the bullfight (el pasello), which usually takes place to the accompaniment of a Paso Doble.

The competitive Paso Doble is technically very difficult to perform. The music consists of three main accents (themes). The first accent is divided into an introduction (false accent) and a main part. Most often, the third topic is a repetition of the first. At sports ballroom dancing competitions, the first two themes are most often performed. However, in addition to the competitive one, there is also a public form of this dance, widespread in Spain, France and Latin America. This is exactly the kind of Paso Doble that is danced in numerous clubs and dance centers around the world.

Slow Waltz

It originated in the old folk dances of Austria and Southern Germany. The name comes from German word walzen- “to spin”, “to spin”. The closest predecessors of the waltz can be considered the fast “German dance” and slow waltzes - Landlers, which came into fashion approx. 1800. German dances are found in J. Haydn, W. A. Mozart and L. van Beethoven.

The first mention of the waltz itself dates back to around 1770. At first, this dance aroused strong resistance from both guardians of morality and dance masters. For some time, the waltz existed within the framework of English Country Dance (country dance), but soon gained independence and came out on top among ballroom dances, popular in Vienna, Paris, and New York.

Viennese Waltz

Although Waltz was a huge success and created a real sensation in many European courts, in the most the beginning of the nineteenth century, the official attitude towards the Waltz was very cautious - at balls in Vienna itself, the waltz was allowed to be danced for no more than 10 minutes: hugs between a gentleman and a lady during a dance were considered not entirely appropriate. But it was no longer possible to stop the waltz, and when in 1815, after the victory over Napoleon, the congress of the victorious allies was held in Vienna, the waltz was selflessly danced at all the balls - enchanting, magical, brilliant. It was then that the waltz acquired its specific feature - an accented rhythm, which made this dance more elegant and more romantic.

Tango

Tango is a unique fusion of traditions, folklore, feelings and experiences of many peoples, which has a long history. With the creation of the first "Sociedades de negros" at the beginning of the 19th century in Buenos Aires and Montevideo, the word “tango” began to be used to refer to both these societies and their dance parties. What was played at these parties had little in common with the music that had spread through expatriate circles in the Rio de la Plata since the mid-19th century. In the ports of Buenos Aires and Montevideo various cultures merged into one new one, with which the new settlers identified themselves, the tango we know appeared.

Quickstep

Quickstep (Foxtrot) - by origin fast dance in bipartite size, performed somewhat slower than One-step, after which Foxtrot gained popularity in the USA ca. 1912. After World War I, due to the spread of the “jazz style” in dance music, the term “Foxtrot” began to refer to any jazz-like dance music in two-beat time signature (except for Latin American tangos and congas). In the 1920s, different types of Foxtrot were popular, quickly replacing each other, among which Charleston and Black Bottom can be distinguished.

Slow Foxtrot

In the early 1930s, a calmer Slow Fox(“Slow Foxtrot”). It reached its popularity in the 40s of the twentieth century. The tunes written by Frank Sinatra, Glen Miller and many other musicians have become true classics. The characteristic steps in Slow Foxtrot are long and sliding. The rhythm of the dance is less than 30 beats per minute.

Mambo

In Haiti "mambo"- this is a voodoo priest, for rural residents - a judge, doctor, fortune teller, spiritual guide and organizer of dance fun.

However, in Haiti there was no dance with this name. For the first time, such dances appear in Cuba, where there were large settlements of Haitians. The invention of the mambo is credited to Perez Prado, who performed it at the La Tropicana nightclub in Havana in 1943. In New York, the dance first appeared in New York's Park Plaza Ballroom, a favorite hall of black dancers from Harlem. Mambo made a splash in other clubs in 1947 - at the Palladium and other famous places such as The China Doll, Havana Madrid and Birdland.

Modified version of "Mambo" (the original dance that Prado danced was greatly simplified - thrown out a large number of acrobatic elements) was presented to the public in dance studios, resort hotels, nightclubs in New York and Miami. It was a complete success! Happy dancers are affectionately called mambo "Mambonics". The mambo craze did not last long; today mambo in the West is simply one of the popular Latin American dances. The teachers came to the conclusion that this dance is one of the most difficult in terms of technique and musicality.

Merengue

Latin American dance of Dominican origin, also adopted in the USA. Moving in bipartite meter, the dancers emphasize the first beat with a walking step, and on the count of “two” they make an inward movement with their knees pressed against each other. The cheerful, slightly syncopated dance melody consists of two periods of 16 bars each. A typical merengue consists of an introduction (jaseo) and interludes (jaleo).

Salsa

A style of Latin American music meaning "sauce", with Native American, Spanish and African ingredients. The term “Salsa” was coined in the 20s by Chano Pozo, a Cuban percussionist and first-wave emigrant to America from Cuba. The Salsa boom came in the 70s, when huge salsa festivals that filled stadiums began to be held in the USA, Africa and Latin America, and a huge number of CDs were recorded. New York immediately made Salsa more commercial and, thanks to the powerful broadcast radio stations of New York record companies and the active distribution of CDs, this product reaches us. Native Latin American Salsa is warmer and not so popular here.

Hustle

Translated from English it means “hustle and bustle.” Pair dance based on improvisation and “leading”.

The progenitor of the Hustle (more precisely, all its versions performed in three and six counts) should be considered the Latin American Hustle. Life was given to him by street dancers from among the many in the southern part American state Florida gypsies and Latinos (mostly Cubans). Trying to adapt their own dance skills (the source material was Salsa and West Coast swing) to the completely inappropriate, but incredibly popular in the early 1970s, Disco rhythms, the dancers created a unique precedent - a dance in which three beats are performed in four beats. movements (Latin American Hustle is performed in six counts “one-two-and-three-four-five-six” - 1-2-&3-4-5-6). The resulting dance was first known as disco swing, but in New York it was considered a variation of West Coast swing and continued to be called “West Coast Swing.”

Forro

Forro (or Fojo) is a Brazilian folk and social couples dance that gained its greatest popularity after World War II. According to one version forro comes from the word forrobodo, meaning a big noisy party or "noise, commotion, excitement." According to another version the word forro derived from English expression "for all"(for everyone - English). English engineers during the construction of the Great Western Railroad organized dances on weekends both for their staff and for the population in general. (“for all”). There is also a third version: the word comes from the number of locomotives that English engineers used when compacting railway rails, “40” or "Four-oh", simplified by the Brazilians to " forro».

There are three main rhythms in Forro dance: slow (xote), original (baiao), fast (arrasta-pe). Slow rhythm xote considered the basic style of all Forro. It is quite primitive and easy to implement. Due to the slow pace, characteristic turns left and right are easy to master even for beginners. Rhythm baiao takes as a basis xote, but with some additions. So in baiao the tempo of the dance increases and swaying is added. To cope with the increased rhythm, dancers move less around the dance floor. Last rhythm arrasta-pe is very fast xote. Depending on the region of Brazil, Forro can be represented in several other dance rhythms: xaxado, coco, embolado.

The founder of modern Forro is the Brazilian accordionist, composer and singer Luis Gonzaga (1912-1989) . Huge influence on the formation modern dance Forro provided Salsa. It was thanks to her that dancers’ spins and numerous turns appeared in Forro. The dance is most popular in the northeast of Brazil.

Argentine Tango

Tango was born at the end of the 19th century in the sprawling slums of Buenos Aires. Here, in overcrowded and run-down urban dwellings, the cultural traditions of countries around the world met. Soldiers flocked here, tired of prolonged civil wars, dispossessed peasants, descendants of African slaves, immigrants from Europe. The vast majority of new arrivals were men. Suffering from loneliness in a foreign land, they gathered in port bars. National melodies mixed, creating memorable tango sounds. Music and dance came first. Poems appeared later.

Over time, tango began to gain popularity among the working class of Buenos Aires. At the beginning of the 20th century to a unique sound bandoneon sounds of guitar, flute and violin were added. Tango orchestras appeared. It rapidly gained popularity, and only high society did not recognize the new music.

At the beginning of the 20th century, tango appeared in Europe. His debut in Paris was a real sensation. Some immediately became his passionate admirers, others - his opponents. Attempts to stop the popularity of this sensual dance with its touching hips and intertwining legs were unsuccessful. For Europe, this dance has become a craze.

In the 40s of the 20th century, tango was extremely popular. After the establishment of the military dictatorship in Argentina, tango was persecuted in every possible way and was banned for many decades. Today, when talking about Argentine tango, we mean dances: Tango Salon, Tango Waltz and Milonga.

Milonga

Milonga is a dance of Argentine origin, together with the Spanish Habanera, which is the predecessor of the Argentine tango. The musical size of Milonga is bipartite, the tempo is flexible. A distinctive feature is the syncopated rhythm, also characteristic of Creole tango. The text of a Milonga song usually has a lyrical or comic content.

Milonga is danced as a fast, cheerful and mischievous dance with a fast linear progression. There are several styles of performing Milonga: Milonga fox- technically relatively simple, with a rhythm of one step per measure; Milonga Traspi- relatively a new style, characteristic a large number interrupted steps, accelerations, etc. techniques performed at double (quadruple) speed in relation to the main rhythm or with syncopation. Slowing down in relation to the main rhythm is used less often. High speed dance gives rise to noticeable differences from tango in the technique of movement and pair interaction.

The Milonga song gained its greatest popularity in the second half of the 19th century. Milonga dance appeared in the last third of the 19th century as a street dance in the poor neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. At the beginning of the 20th century, the dance form Milonga merged with Tango.

Disco

Disco dancing appeared in the mid-70s. Their simplicity, ease of learning, amazing cheerfulness - all this created such popularity that is still relevant today. The tune “Do Hustle” was released after the famous movie “Saturday Night Fever”. Hollywood star John Travolta, the most popular group The Bee Gees' simple and melodic melodies brought disco rhythms and dances to the top of popularity. Flashing lights, mirrored walls, loudly pulsating rhythm, high fashion and much more have made Disco dance the most desired in the whole world.

The Disco dance itself was extremely simple and erotic - unlike the acrobatic stunts of Rock and Roll, the classic twist and swing movements, which by this time had already turned into “dances for the ancestors”, no special skills were required to dance Disco - you just had to feel the rhythm well. It was Disco who first shouted “Just move your body”!

In Europe this direction is known as disco-fox(in Germany) and disco-swing(in Switzerland), and in America as disco-hustle.

Hip-Hop

Hip-Hop party, R’n’B-party, MTV-style - do you know these names? A huge number of dance schools teach the very popular style of hip-hop today. But, perhaps, not everyone can answer the question - where did this come from? dance direction?

The “ancestor” of dance Hip-Hop is African jazz (translated as improvisation), and the first performers were African Americans. Afro-jazz exists to this day as a separate dance movement. But if we consider Afro-jazz as an ethnic dance, then initially it was night festivities and dances around the fire of black tribes. We can say that Hip-Hop is a street style that closely resembles the so-called Street jazz (street improvisation). Like any other style of dance, Hip-Hop (and therefore R’n’B) is not only a dance, but also a clothing style, a behavior style, a lifestyle.

R&B

The R'n'B style came to us from the black neighborhoods of Latin America. R’n’B parties are now the most fashionable not only in the West, but also here. The most prominent representatives of R'n'B rhythms are such personalities as J. Timberlake, Five, J. Lopez, B. Spears and others. R’n’B is quite difficult to single out into a specific dance style; first of all, it is a mixture hip-hop, locking, pops And funk. The trend, very popular among modern youth, first appeared in America in black neighborhoods. Now R'n'B is danced in the most advanced European clubs. Don't you know how yet?

C-Walk

The Crip Walk or C-Walk is a dance that originated in the early 1990s in the inner city of Compton, California. The roots of this dance originate in the South Central area of Los Angeles, where its foundation was laid in the early 80s, becoming a staple of hip-hop dances in the late 90s.

Initially, gang members "Crips" used leg movements to visually represent their name or some other word from the Crips arsenal. Also, many Crips gangs use the C-Walk to initiate new gang members. Typically performed by West Coast Gangsta Rap and G-Funk artists, the C-Walk was first seen by the mainstream in the late 80s when rapper Ice-T performed it on stage in front of the cameras. Later, rapper WC also began using the C-Walk in his videos, but unlike Ice-T, WC made it clear to everyone that it was not a dance. In one of the compositions, he said the following - “gangsters don’t dance,” that is, WC used C-Walk only to show his love to other members of the “Crips” (as we know, WC was a member of the “111 Neighborhood Crips” gang).

Papping (pap; from English. Poppin'- rapid contraction and relaxation of muscles) is a dance style that creates the effect of a sharp shudder in the dancer’s body. A dancer who performs popping is called a popper. Papping in Russia for a long time incorrectly called "upper breakdancing". Also called papping, a number of related styles are combined, including: Waving- it is based on wave-like movements of the body; Gliding, the most famous movement of which is the famous " moonwalk» Michael Jackson; and King Tut And Finger Tut(in which the dancer builds figures from his hands or fingers), Puppet(“puppet dancing” - all dance movements are performed as a puppet on strings does), Slow Motion(dance in slow motion) and others.

The dance appeared in Fresno (California) in the 70s of the twentieth century; Locking contributed in part to this. Like other street dances, popping is often used in battles designed to prove one's advantage over other dancers in public. Papping is characterized by funky music, with a clear tempo and an emphasis on beat/clap.

To express their overwhelming emotions and feelings, expectations and hopes, our ancient ancestors used rhythmic ritual dances. As man himself and the social environment that surrounded him developed, more and more different dances appeared, becoming more complex and sophisticated. Today, even experts will not be able to indicate the name of the types of dances - all performed by people over the centuries. However, dance culture, having passed through centuries, is actively developing. Based on folk and classical ones, new and modern styles and trends appear.

What it is?

Before we consider what types of dances there are, let's clarify what it really is? The shortest and most complex of the art forms in which the human body and its plastic capabilities are used to create a unique image is dance.

It is impossible without the personality of the artist and music. The performer, based on the content of the musical work, builds a “picture” of the dance and embodies his vision and sensory perception in movement. This action can be used as a way social communication and self-expression, a competitive sport and part of a religious cult, as well as an exemplary art form that is constantly evolving and changing. More and more new styles and forms appear in it, different types of dances, the diversity of which confuses even specialists.

History of appearance

The very first dances of people were ritual ones, performed by them in the hope of a successful hunt or a bountiful harvest, healing of the sick or victory in a war. Over time, rhythmic movements were subjected to generalization, which served as the beginning of the formation of ethnic art, which has its own characteristics and traditions for each of the peoples.

All the variety of dance steps originated from the basic types of human movements - running, walking, jumping, swinging and turning. Over time, the following types appeared, everyday (for oneself), as well as those performed for show - cult and stage.

Main directions

Among the various dance styles and directions that exist today, the following, the most popular and well-known, can be named:

In this article we will consider in more detail what types of dances there are in modern choreographic art.

Beginning and mid-20th century

This division into two stages is not accidental. According to many performers at the beginning of the last century, dance as an art form was supposed to reflect new reality, and not adhere to the canons of old ballet schools “frozen” in time. At this time, such choreographic trends emerged that are still popular today, such as:

Free dance.
Modern.
Butoh.
Contemporary (contempo).
Jazz Modern.

Let us dwell in more detail on each of them, as they had a great influence on the formation and development of many styles and directions of modern dance art.

Free dance

This is, first of all, a special worldview of the performer, formed under the influence of Nietzsche’s ideas. The performer, denying the canonical rules of ballet choreography, sought to combine dance and real life, manifesting himself as a liberated spirit of creativity. It was on the basis of free style that such movements as modern and butoh, jazz-modern and contemporary arose and developed.

Modern

Originating at the beginning of the century, this dance style is very popular today and is one of the leading dance styles in the Western choreographic school.

Just like free, he denies any ballet norms and strives to embody various forms on stage, using new original methods. It is characterized by semantic content, a wide range of movements, high jumps and flexibility, “broken” poses and movements unusual for ballet choreography, and various twists.

Contemporary dance

It is quite reasonable to say that styles such as free dance and modern, popular at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, served as the basis for the formation of such a movement as contemporary dance. This dance, as an art form, offers the dancer, through various choreographic styles, to demonstrate as fully as possible in improvisation all his internal emotions and resources.

Jazz Modern

The main feature of this direction is the combination of jazz improvisational rhythms and energy, coordination and work with the body and breath of a modern performer, as well as movements inherent in the classical ballet school. Thus, the body of a modern jazz dancer becomes another musical instrument, manifesting melody through the plasticity of his own body.

Butoh

This is one of the youngest dance techniques, which appeared in the fifties of the 20th century in Japan. Butoh, despite its rather long existence, remains the most difficult to understand for people in the Western world today. It is based on the cultural, philosophical, religious and aesthetic values of the Land of the Rising Sun. This dance strives to show earthiness everyday life an ordinary person, as well as to comprehend and demonstrate the body and its capabilities in space and time.

Contemporary dance of the late 20th and early 21st centuries

The whole variety of modern dances can, of course, be divided into two large groups:

street;
club

Street dance

Hip-hop and Krump, popping and locking, breakdancing and C-walk - all these are the names of types of dances that were “born” not on stages and in choreographic studios, but on the streets and courtyards of megacities, discos and clubs.

Most of them are based on hip-hop. The performer is not limited to any form and can safely improvise and experiment, creating an individual and unique pattern of movements, as well as interact with both other dancers and the audience. They are extremely rare in their “pure” form, and for the most part they began to be performed in clubs rather than on the streets, which is why they often fall into the club category. Here are the most popular and common directions:

NewStyle.
Krump - Short for Kingdom Radically Uplifted Mighty Praise meaning "Empire Absolute Power Spiritual Praise."
Locking.
Popping.
LA-Style.
Crip walk (C-walk).
Brakedance.
Hip-Hop.

This is a temperamental, bright and incredible mixture of diverse modern styles allowing you to express yourself in movement. As they say, everyone knows the name of the types of dances of this direction:

Tectonic or electro dance.
House (house).
Jumpstyle (jumpstyle).
Melbourne shuffle (shuffle).
Waacking (wacking).
Go-Go (club Go).
Square dance (square dance).
DnBstep.
Ragga (ragga) and many others.

It is impossible to list all types of dances. The list of names of modern styles and trends is constantly changing and supplemented. Today, dancing is not only a plastic art, but also a fairly common sport.

Dance Sport

If in old times dances were perceived only as a form of art, then the complication of technical and choreographic requirements for performance led to the need for excellent physical fitness those who do this. Today sports dances are, first of all, ballroom. Their feature is that partners perform a set of certain mandatory movements and figures to predetermined music. Evaluations at competitions consist of three parts: compulsory, original and free.

Over time, new musical and choreographic styles and directions appear. And now such modern types of sports dances as breaking or locking, jumpstyle or pole dance (pole dancing) are attracting more and more fans from different age groups. To participate in competitions in these areas, athletes need not only excellent choreographic, but also physical preparation. For those who do not strive to win international competitions, but try to support own body If you are in good shape, we can recommend fitness classes in various dance techniques. Twerk, high heels, go-go, strip dance, belly dance, zumba, sexy R&B, ragga, booty dance - these are the most popular dances. Girls are attracted to them not only by the opportunity to correct their figure, but also to improve their plasticity and increase their own self-esteem.

What is dance

The history of the origins of dance art

Classics and its variations

Professional dancers, learning this art from an early age, initially master classical dances. Their types depend on which program is taken as a basis - European or Latin. These two subgroups are united by good old classical choreography, which has much in common with ballet. The bottom line is that rehearsals take place precisely to classical music, the dancers perform stretches, study positions, plie, pique and other choreographic techniques. In the future, the quality of the dance will depend precisely on the purity and correctness of all these movements.

European program

Slow waltz. This is a golden dance classic, which is always accompanied by appropriate music in three quarters. For each beat, dancers take three steps, with the first being the main one, the second determining the angle of rotation, and the third being an auxiliary one, allowing the weight to be transferred to the other leg.
Tango. It was originally an Argentine folk dance, but later became incredibly popular all over the world and moved into the category of European classics. Its essence lies in the fact that two partners move energetically and rhythmically to the appropriate music (it is also called tango).
Viennese Waltz. This is a kind of analogy to a simple waltz, only it is danced a little faster and more energetically.
Foxtrot. This is a fast and vibrant dance that is performed both in pairs and in groups. It was invented by Harry Fox (hence the name) in the early 20th century, and its popularity has not waned since then.
Quickstep. This is the fastest dance from the European classics. It is performed in 4/4 rhythm, and there are as many as 50 bars per minute. It takes years of practice and grueling training to dance the foxtrot properly. It is important that all movements look easy, relaxed, and performed with incredible precision.

Latin American program

Samba. A Brazilian dance that arose from the fusion of African and Portuguese traditions. It is danced in 2/4 time signature, with up to 54 bars per minute. In the classical version, it is performed to the beat of drums or other Latin percussion instruments.
Cha-cha-cha. Characterized by much slower choreography. The time signature is 4/4, there are 30 bars per minute. The dance is most popular in Cuba, where it originated in the 20s of the last century. Today it is included in the classical dance program.
Rumba. The slowest and most intimate dance, which is always performed in pairs. Accuracy is not important here, as in other types of choreography. It is only important that the partners’ poses are very beautiful, that they form unique figures, and at the same time, each of their movements should be as flexible as possible.
Paso Doble. This dance has its roots in Spanish bullfighting. Here the partner often portrays a bullfighter, and his partner - a cloak. The essence of the choreography is the double step (hence the name).
Jive. African-American choreography, which also arose in the 20th century and became widespread in the United States. Jive is danced in swing mode, but at the same time it is very different from its modern analogue of the same name. Time signature - 4/4, number of beats per minute - 44.

Ballet

All currently existing types of dance are based on ballet to one degree or another. This art officially separated from general choreography in the 17th century, when the first French ballet school emerged. What are the features of ballet? Here the choreography is inextricably linked with the music and facial expressions of the performers. As a rule, each production has a specific script, which is why it is often called a mini-play. True, in some cases there are also “unscripted” ballets, where dancers simply demonstrate their incomparable and precise skills. Ballet is divided into three categories: romantic, classical and modern. The first is always a mini-play on a love theme ("Romeo and Juliet", "Carmen", etc.). The classic one can personify any plot (for example, “The Nutcracker”), but its important element is choreography based on acrobatics and excellent plasticity. Modern ballet includes different types of dances. There are elements of jive, Latin choreography, and classical music. A distinctive feature is that everyone dances in pointe shoes.

Modern choreography

Modern dance

Tectonic. It arose in the 21st century on the basis of jumpstyle, hip-hop, popping, techno style, etc. Always dancing to fast electronic music.
Strip dance. This is the basis of any striptease, in other words, a dance that may involve further undressing. The essence lies in plastic movements, and also often in interaction with other objects. This is how the famous pool dance, lap dance, etc. were born.
Go go. Erotic dance that does not involve undressing. Aimed at entertaining the crowd in the club. May contain any plastic elements that will correspond to the playing music.
Hakka. A dance that originated in the Netherlands, in hardcore circles. His movements are based on music in this style.
Jumpstyle. The dance, based on jumping, is one of the few modern ones that is danced in pairs. But at the same time, it has a peculiarity - partners should not touch each other.
D'n'B Step. This is exclusively an attribute of the drum and bass style. Choreography always depends on the rhythm and tempo of the music.
Shuffle. The dance originated in Australia and is based on jazz. All movements, in particular the steps characteristic of this style, are performed to electronic fast music at a faster tempo.

Based on the plot of the movie “Step Up”...

Hip-hop. This is a whole cultural movement that originated in the 70s in New York among representatives of the working class. It covers not only unique choreography, but also slang, fashion, behavior and other areas of life. Within the hip-hop culture, there are a wide variety of dance types, more or less difficult to perform. This includes breaking, DJing, MCing, club hip-hop and much more.
Breakdancing, also called b-boying. Initially, it was part of hip-hop culture, and then, due to its uniqueness, it became a separate dance.
Crip Walk. A dance that originated in Los Angeles. Characterized by steps that are performed in the spirit of improvisation, at a very fast pace.
Popping. The dance is based on the rapid contraction and relaxation of muscles, due to which the human body shudders. It is important to observe certain positions and postures in which such movements look most impressive.

In the spirit of folk traditions

In each state, in addition to the flag and anthem, there is another, no less important attribute - dance. Each nation is characterized by its own movements, its own rhythms and tempos, which have developed historically. Based on the characteristics of the choreography, you can easily determine what nationality a person is and what country he represents. Such performances are performed mainly in a group, but there are some exceptions when only two partners perform. Now we will look at the types of folk dances that are the most popular all over the world. By the way, some of them became the basis of classical choreography, and some served as an excellent start for the development of street dancing.

Dances of the peoples of the world

Attan is the official folk dance of Afghanistan. It is also performed by many neighboring peoples in various variations.
Hopak - dance of the peoples of Ukraine. It is always performed in national costumes, in a very fast and energetic rhythm. It is characterized by jogging, squats, jumping and other active body movements.
Trepak is a native Russian dance, which is also common in Ukraine. It is always performed in a bipartite meter, and is accompanied by fractional steps and stamping.
Zika is a famous Chechen dance performed exclusively by men. As a rule, it is an accompanying element for important religious events.
Krakowiak is the most famous Polish dance. Performed in a fast rhythm, always with a straight back.
Round dance. A dance-game that was previously popular among many nations. The rules are different everywhere, but the point is that a huge number of people take part in the round dance.
Lezginka is the most famous choreographic performance in the Caucasus. It is danced by Chechens, Armenians, Georgians, Azerbaijanis and many other peoples.

Types of oriental dances

Turkish. They are always performed in bright costumes, accompanied by fast music. They are characterized by rhythmic movements, very high plasticity and even acrobatics.
Egyptian. This is the most modest oriental choreography. The costumes are restrained, as are the movements, and the music is slow and measured. There is no place for frivolous body movements in Egyptian dances - this is considered debauchery.
Arabic. This is real scope for improvisation and variation. If you know what types of dances there are in the East and how they are performed, you can put all the techniques and techniques together, and you will get an excellent performance in the Arabic style.
Lebanese. The most unique and unusual. They combine elements of Turkish and Egyptian choreography. Therefore, fast and rhythmic movements alternate with slow and measured ones. The action is also characterized by the use of foreign objects (cymbals, canes, etc.).
Persian dance consists of graceful movements that mainly involve the arms, head and long hair.

How did belly dancing come about?

Almost all women in the world dream of mastering this choreographic style, but only a few master it perfectly. Many attribute its origins to the Middle East, but in fact the dance originated in India. Even before the birth of Christ, this custom was transferred from their homeland by the gypsies to Egypt, where it became popular. Various types of belly dancing began to emerge there, which very soon spread throughout the Middle East. Well, let's look at which of them are now the most famous:

Dance with the snake. It requires a combination of flexibility and courage, as well as the ability to handle this animal.
Dance with fire. During the performance, torches, candles, lamps with essential oils and much more can be used that glorifies the cult of fire.
Dance with cymbals. This hand percussion instrument is a relative of the Spanish castanets. Performing rhythmic movements, the dancer accompanies herself.
Raqs el-Sharqi is a belly dance that involves the area from the navel to the hips.
Raqs el-Shamadam is a performance in which a woman dances with a candelabra on her head. Very popular in Egypt.

Types of sports dances

Sports dancing is a kind of analogue of classical ballroom choreography. The difference is that dancers are trained according to a more strict and intensive program, with special emphasis on stretching, precision of movements, and speed of their execution. An important component of any sports dance is not the beauty of the performance, but the technicality of performing all the movements. In general, this subgroup consists of choreographic productions known to us, among which there are standard European and Latin programs.

Conclusion

We looked at what types of dances exist in different countries and determined their styles and characteristics. As it turned out, each choreographic production has its own tempo, rhythm, and character of execution. Also, many dances cannot exist without facial expressions, certain costumes, style and even the mood of those who perform them. Therefore, if you are going to master this art, it is important to initially decide which style you like to dance in, and which one is most suitable for you in terms of capabilities and even the structural features of your figure. And in the future, for self-improvement, you will only need diligence and practice. Go for it!