Thursday, February 17, 2011

Dancing Styles

Dance is one of the most beautiful forms of art that has grown in leaps and bounds. Dance is no longer just a hobby; it is also one of the most lucrative professions as well!
Dance is a form of expression that helps a person to discover a whole new world! The different types of dances and dance styles that are prevalent all over the world are an indication of the popularity of this art form. From the olden days till date, dance has always been performed for social reasons or even for purely aesthetic reasons. The various types of dances are also considered as an entertaining way to remain fit!


Types of Dances and Different Dancing Styles:
Bharatnatyam:
One of the popular dances in India along with Kathak, Bharatnatyam dance has its origins in Tamil Nadu. This dance uses the base of story telling combined with pure dance movements. The dance is also distinctive due to the particular styles of dressing and make up.

Kathak: 
Kathak is characterized with the fast footwork and the many numerous ‘chakkars’ or spins used in the compositions. This dance originated from the Northern part of India. The name is actually a Sanskrit word which means katha-to tell a story. Kathak, like all other traditional dances of India follow the pattern where the Guru passes on the knowledge to the student, also known as the ‘shishya’.



Kuchipudi:
This classical Indian dance has its roots in Andhra Pradesh. Danced on the accompaniment of Carnatic music, this dance is also gaining popularity outside India. The style may be a little similar to Bharatnatyam, however, there are many unique steps that belong purely to this dance.







Ballroom Dance:
The Ballroom dance is one of the most entertaining and elite styles of dancing. In the earlier days, Ballroom dance was only for the privileged class of people. This style of partner dance originated in Germany but is popular all over the world. Today, the popularity of Ballroom dance has spread to many corners! 


Swing Dance:
The Swing dance style originated in the 1920s – 1930s. There are many versions of the Swing dance such as the Lindy Hop, Jitterbug, Boogie Woogie, West Coast Swing, Rock and Roll etc. Rock ‘n’ Roll is a very sporty form of dance that is extremely popular as well. Boogie Woogie is another dance style that is seen mainly in Europe. This dance is also seen in competitions.



Ballet Dance:
The Ballet dance is a very beautiful form of dance with a formal look. This dance was developed in France and Russia. There are many ballet schools around the world that teach all about the various technical terminologies in relation to classical ballet. The classical Ballet is the most formal style of ballet. Apart from this, there is the Neoclassical ballet and Contemporary Ballet.


Break Dance:
Michael Jackson  popularized Breakdance to a huge extent. Breakdance is actually a form of street dance that was a part of the hip-hop culture. The many movies based on Breakdance have also been an indication of its popularity. Breakdance is relatively a male dominated type of dance style. This type of dance is characterized with the typical ‘battles’ between groups.



Hip Hop Dance:
This style is actually a street dance style and is a combination of dance moves combined with loads of attitude as well as colorful dancewear. In the early days, this style was generally seen in breaking and from there on, one could witness many innovations in this dance style.


Step Dance
This category includes dances that make use of footwork. These types of dances generally require one to have a rigid stance with more movement of the feet. Step dances are basically social dances. A good example of this dance would be the Irish dance.


Jazz Dance:
Jazz dance finds its origins in the African American culture. From the olden days till date, there are many influences that have added a variety to this dance form. One can see many overlapping of steps in Jazz dance, which are similar to various other styles.

Contra Dance:
This dance is a form of folk dancing. Here, the couples have to dance in two lines. These couples also have to face each other. There are various sequences, which couples need to perform. This social dance is a very fun form and also very easy to learn.