Outline of dance
These should be the most basic topics in the field--topics about which we'd like to have articles soon. Please see the most basic encyclopedia article topics for general instructions on constructing this list.
Dances
Dances may be either danced by partners, alone, or in groups.
Partner dances
In partner dances, very typical at social events featuring recorded music, two people stay together for the duration of the dance, which lasts as long as an individual song. One---typically a man---is the leader; the other---typically a woman---is the follower. They maintain a connection with each other called dance frame. There are three rough groups of partner dances.
Ballroom dances are characterized by travelling: couples travel around the dance floor in a specified direction (the line of dance, typically counter-clockwise). Time may be 4/4 or 3/4. The couples do not face each other directly, but look over each others' shoulders. The Music is often slow-paced and frequently Classical in style. Ballroom dances include:
- Foxtrot
- Waltz (standard and Viennese)
- Tango (originally but no longer considered a Latin dance)
- Polka (depending which part of the world one would be in)
- Slow Foxtrot (more likely to be found in the place of Polka above, definitely so in the school of (both leisure and competition) dance known as International Ballroom)
Latin dances typically originated in Latin America. Compared to typical ballroom dances, Latin dances are generally faster-paced, more sensual, and devoid of travelling. Time is generally 4/4. Couples stand face-to-face. Music may be Latin American traditional or contemporary popular music. Latin dances include:
- Cha cha
- Rumba
- Samba (comes in different flavors, particularly as danced in Brazil vs. international leisure and competitive dance)
- Paso Doble (nowadays less seen outside competitive dancing)
- Jive (basically a domesticated offspring of the Swing dances. See below for many more flavors of this, though.)
- Salsa (not a member of the Latin section as seen by some. Those would rather tend to think of a "Caribbean" section for Salsa also including Merengue, Bachata and others)
Swing dances originated in the United States of America from the Charleston, itself descended from traditional African dances. Swing dances are energetic and sensual. Despite the absense of travelling in the ballroom sense, couples may move around a large area of the dance floor. Swing dances were originally danced to Swing music but are very adaptable. Swing dances include:
- Jitterbug, arguably the original
- East Coast Swing, a slower-paced variant of jitterbug
- Lindy hop
- West Coast Swing, a modern variant that requires less space than East Coast Swing
- Balboa
Group dances
- Folk dance
- English Country Dance
- Square Dance
- Traditional square dance
- Western square dance
- Line dance
Other dances
- Ballet
- Belly Dance
- Bharata Natyam---from India
- Breakdancing
- Butoh
- Buyoh
- Capoeira
- Classical Dance
- Disco
- Flamenco---from Andalusia
- Shag
- Jazz
- Jive
- Modern dance
- Tap
Historical dance forms