25 Amazing Dances From Around The World

Posted by , Updated on March 21, 2024

One of the most well-known ways to express emotion, whether that be anger, joy, sadness or pain, is through dance. People dance in order to celebrate, commemorate and/or they dance in order to prepare for some ritual. Whatever the reason, dance is an art form that is amazing to look at so here are 25 amazing dances from around the world.
25

Kekak Trance Dance

kekak trance dance

This Indonesian dance was originally performed in order to communicate with ancestral spirits, but has since then been interwoven with the Indian epic known as the Ramayana.

24

Tango

tango

Tango is an Argentinean dance known to be one of the most difficult to master. Nevertheless, it never fails to amaze each time is performed.

23

Capoiera

capoeira

A Brazilian half dance, half martial arts; Capoiera can be described as astounding, astonishing and fascinating, among others adjectives.

22

Celestial Dance

celestial dance

This Cambodian dance enacts the sagas that have been in the country for thousands of years. It was even carved into some parts of the Angkor Wat.

21

Aerial Dance

aerial dance

Aerial Dance is an interesting form of expression that involves getting “attached” to the ceiling, thus letting performers explore space in three-dimensions.

20

Ballet

www.berkeleyside.com

Known for its beauty and grance; Ballet is a dance which originated during the Italian Renaissance courts in the 15th century. Later on, it developed into a concert dance.

19

Belly Dance

belly dance

This dance is also known as “Raqs Sharqi” and is traditionally a solo dance done by women. This Middle Eastern dance was taught within families and performed during celebrations.

18

Break Dance

break dance

Also known as “B-boying”; This athletic and extremely visual solo dance form originated among African American and Puerto Rican youths in New York City during the early 1970s.

17

Flamenco

flamenco

Flamenco is an expressive dance which was originally developed from the songs of Andalucia in Spain, wherein it expressed both the blessings as well as hardships of daily life.

16

Bharata Natyam

bharata natyam

Bharata Natyam was developed over centuries in the temples in Southern India. It was handed down as a living tradition from one generation to the next under the Devadasi system, wherein women were dedicated in serving the deity as dancers and musicians.

15

Tap Dance

tap dance

Tap Dance’s name comes from the tapping sound that’s made when small metal plates on a dancer’s shoes make contact with a hard floor. It was first seen in the US during the late 19th century.

14

Waltz

waltz

This is danced to slow, melodic music and it requires the dancers to execute fluid and delicate movement.

13

Salsa

salsa

Salsa is a dance form with origins from the Cuban Son and Afro-Cuban dance. This partner dance is quite sensual in its form since it’s known for having flirtatious movements.

12

Polka

polka

The polka is a Central European dance and also a genre of dance music familiar throughout Europe and the Americas.

11

Swing

swing

“Swing dance” is most commonly known as a group of dances that developed with the swing style of jazz music in the 1920s-1950s. This is the blanket term for dances such as the Boogie Woogie, Jitterbug and Lindy Hop, among others.

10

Fandango

fandango

One of the primary dances in Portugal, it involves the dancers tapping their feet and quickly changing their positions.

9

Cancan

cancan

This is a high-energy as well as physically demanding music hall dance usually performed by female dancers in chorus line while wearing costumes that have long skirts, petticoats and black stocking. Its primary features are skirt lifting and manipulation, high kicking and suggestive body movement.

8

Kabuki

kabuki

Kabuki is a classical Japanese dance-drama that is known for the stylization of its performance and for the elaborate make-up worn by some of its performers.

7

Lion Dance

lion dance

This is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture wherein the performers mimic how a lion moves while wearing a lion costume.

6

Irish Stepdance

irish stepdance

Casually known as riverdance thanks to the popularity of an interval act in 1994 called Riverdance; this dance can be done solo or by a group and is characterized by stiffened upper bodies while performing quick and intricate footwork.

5

Tinikling

tinikling

This pre-Spanish dance from the Philippines involves two people tapping, beating and sliding bamboo poles on the ground as well as against one another in coordination while stepping over and in between the poles.

4

Cossack Dance

cossack dance

Also known as Gopak, it is considered to be the official dance of the Ukraine and is composed of visually and technically amazing acrobatic feats. These include jumps and spins, and are usually the highlight of the performance.

3

Shaolin Monk Dance

shaolin monk dance

With a tradition that’s more than 1,500 years old, these have combined their knowledge, discipline and their martial art in order to make this dance form their very own.

2

Kathak

www.kathak.org

Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances which originated from India. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathakars or storytellers.

1

Bollywood Dance

25 Amazing Dances From Around The World

This dance combines both Indian dance and music with big Hollywood movie-style set. You can expect the dresses to not just be bright but colorful too.