Barn dance
It is any kind of dance, but usually involves traditional or folk music with traditional dancing. Originated in Scotland in the 1860’s, it is also known as the Pas de Quartre. These parties were usually thrown after the raising of a barn or would be given as a birthday party, homecoming, or wedding. These dances were to merge with square dancing in the United States. Barn dances were very popular up until about 1899 as farmers and common folk were not invited to the fancier balls of the upper class.
The term barn dance is usually associated with family-oriented, community-oriented events, but can refer to a rave, a kegger, or any other event than might be held in a barn or other rural building.
Square dance
Square dance is an American institution which began in New England. After a week’s labour, the settlers would gather in the community center and enjoy dancing their old-world favourites.
Square dance is a folk dance with four couples (eight dancers) arranged in a square, with one couple on each side, beginning with Couple one facing away from the music and going counter-clockwise until getting to Couple four.
Couples one and three are known as the head couples, while Couples two and four are the side couples. Each dance begins and ends each sequence with ‘‘sets-in-order” in the square formation.
Balinese dance
Balinese dance is greatly influenced by Indian dance. These includes the epic performances such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
The dance training begins when one is still very young. The teacher stands in front of the children and starts dancing. The children follow her every movement. Once the teacher feels that a child understands the basic sequence, she stands behind the child, and directs the child by holding her wrists. In Balinese dance the movement is closely associated with the rhythms produced by the gamelan, a musical ensemble. However, practicing with a gamelan orchestra will only happen when the dance is considered to have entered the student.
Based on their religious functions, Balinese dances can be categorised into three. Wali (sacred) dances, are considered sacred, and must be performed in the inner court of the temple. Bebali dances are ceremonial and are usually performed in the middle court of a temple. Balih-balihan dances are often considered secular and entertaining. They are performed in the outer court or even outside the temple.
Tap Dance
The early slave trade in America resulted in a rhythmic collision of cultures. With the drums banned in fear of slave-holders communicating over long distances, the only possible way was to tap.
Tap is an exciting form of dance in which dancers wear special shoes equipped with metal taps. Tap dancers use their feet like drums to create rhythmic patterns and timely beats. The most common style is called classical tap. Another popular performance of the tap dancing is Riverdance.
Belly dance
There are still debates over the origin of Belly dance and one theory suggests that it originated in India. However, many consider this as a traditional Egyptian dance genre. The costumes usually consists of the typical two-piece belly dance outfit of a decorated bra top and a matching belt (usually beaded) over a skirt. Dancers often dance while balancing various props like baskets, swords or canes as well as using silk or chiffon veils.
Street dance
Also called vernacular dance, it is not any trained and sophisticated form of dance. The best feature of street dance is the improvisation factor. There are no fixed dance moves in street dancing rather it focuses on dancer’s own improvisation instincts. First seen in USA in the 1970s. it gives an energetic amalgamation of many hip hop and funk dance styles. It is also used as a physical education in many western schools.
Street dance finds its motivation in fight against violent gangster activities. It uses moves like rigorous hand, clapping hands, head movements and stomping feet which help in releasing anger, frustration and aggression. Street dance is slowly making its presence felt in Indian metros. Many young ones can be seen flocking to street dance classes every new season.
Tecktonik
One of the most recently developed dance forms, born in France at the club Metropolis in 2000, it is based on a blend of techno styles, combining the late 80s vogue, the 90s waving and old school breakdancing. Though Tecktonik has not yet succeeded in creating its own music genre, it has grown in popularity mostly through word-of-mouth and video sharing sites such as Dailymotion and YouTube.
The term Tecktonik is also a registered trademark and the customary attire for Tecktonik dancers include tight-fitting jackets and slim-fit jeans, thorugh futuristic, sometimes even over-the-top gothic hair cuts and make-up designs such as a star around one eye. The first music video featuring choreagraphed Tecktonik dancing was Lorie’s Je Vais Vite.
Ballet
Ballet is a type of performative dance, whose origins can be dated back to the sixteenth and seventeenth-century French courts. After loosing its appeal, it was resurrected to the scene soon after the First World War — thanks to the Russians! The word ballet traces its origin to Latin ballare, meaning to dance.
The early performances paved the way for the proscenium stage — a theatre space whose primary feature is a large archway at or near the front of the stage, through which the audience views the play. It was presented in large chambers with the most of the audience seated on tiers or galleries on three sides of the dancing floor. Ballet has now become a highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary. It is primarily performed with the accompaniment of classical music.
Later developments in this dance form include, expressionist ballet, neoclassical ballet, and elements of Modern dance.