World Dance Apparel — What are the Common Types of Modern Dance?
Modern dance may have started as a rejection of classical ballet techniques, but it is now a well-known and self-contained art form.
A Brief Introduction About Modern Dance
Modern dance is a highly expressive dance style that challenges the structured dance style of classical ballet. Modern dance focuses more on expression than on the strict set of poses or technical attitudes in which ballet dancers are trained.
Modern dance moves are free and flowing and often take inspiration from other dance styles — such as African dance, ballet and folk dance. Although modern dance technique is considered more relaxing and natural than ballet, it can require a lot of core work and strength. Modern dancers often perform barefoot, in tight dance costumes that show off their body shapes.
Moves and Types of Modern Dance
Consider the following 10 types of modern dance:
1. Modern dance
2. ballet
3. Ballroom
4. Contemporary
5. Hip Hop
6. Jazz
7. Tap dance
8. Folk dance
9. Irish dancing
10. Swing dance
Modern Dance
Modern dance is a broad dance form and originated at the end of the 20th century mainly in western countries such as the United States and Germany. While most dance forms are structured and have specific steps, the goal of modern dance is to rely on the interpretation of the music and the dancer’s feelings to guide the movements.
Modern dance initially grew out of an aversion to the limitations of traditional dances such as ballet, which dancers often suppressed with strict rules and methods.
Today, modern dance is enjoyed all over the world because participants have the opportunity to practice ballet without having to focus strictly on their techniques or participation. Alternatively, dancers can choose a piece of music and use unconventional movements to convey feelings or tell a meaningful story.
Ballet Dance
Ballet developed during the Italian Renaissance, before developing in France and Russia into a musical dance intended to be performed in public. It is in ballet form, with the choreography being choreographed with classical music.
Ballet is now a widespread form of highly technical dance with many subgenres including classical, romantic, neoclassical and contemporary.
Ballet is professionally studied in the best dance schools in the world with the following six recognized technical Ballet methods:
- The Cecchetti
2. The Bournoville
3. The Vaganova
4. The French school
5. The Royal Academy of Dance and
6. The Balanchine
Ballroom Dance
Ballroom dancing is a form of partner dance that originated in late 16th century France. Ballroom is often used as an abbreviation for any partner dance, and today it has evolved into two main subgenres: standard/smooth and Latin/rhythm.
Dances in these categories include waltz, tango, foxtrot, passodoble, bolero, and samba.
Ballroom dancing is a popular form of competition dancing, or ballroom dancing, with competitions held all over the world and special type of dance apparels are available for it.
Contemporary Dance
Contemporary dance developed in the mid-20th century and today is one of the most popular and technical dance forms studied and performed by professionals, especially in the United States and Europe.
Inspired by classical, modern and jazz dance styles, contemporary dance also has evolved with many features of a wide variety of dance forms.
Hip-Hop Dance
Hip-hop dance refers to a group of street dances that developed in connection with hip-hop music and culture. Hip-hop dance dates back to the early 1970s in New York and California, where it grew out of funk and the evolution of break rhythm.
Important hip-hop dance styles are Breaking, Locking and Popping, with derived styles such as Memphis Jookin’, Turfing, Jerkin’ and Krumping. It was often popularized and made mainstream after appearing in music videos at the time.
Today, hip-hop is performed in outdoor spaces as well as in dance studios and rivalries.
Unlike many competitive dance styles, hip hop is often improvised with dance teams challenging each other in dance battles.
Jazz Dance
Jazz has its roots in 17th-century African traditions, which were brought to the Americas via the transatlantic slave trade as slaves continued the dance traditions in Brazil, the United States, and elsewhere on the continents.
Known for its improvisation and dramatic body movements, jazz became popular in jazz clubs in the early 1900s.
Today, jazz dance is based on the vernacular African-American dance styles that originated with jazz in the United States. Swing, Lindy Hop, Shimmy, and Charleston are popular types of jazz dancing.
Tap Dancing
Tap dancing is a form of rhythmic dance characterized by the tapping of shoes on the floor while a person dances. Tap dancers often wear metal “tips” on the heel and toe of the shoe to accentuate the sound.
Often performed as part of musical theater, tap dancing often focuses on choreography and formations, with more than one tap dancer performing at a time.
Tap dancing characterizes a group of dances including flamenco, percussion, classical, Broadway and postmodern.
Folk Dance
Folk dance is celebrated around the world with people from different cultures and religions using different forms of folk dance to portray feelings, stories, historical events or even aspects of everyday life.
Some cultures even perform multiple forms of folk dancing, with countries like South Korea performing solo dances for major events such as victories in war, agriculture, music, and religion.
Folk dances usually take place at public events, in which people can participate whether they are professionals or beginners. These dances are also accompanied by traditional music to enrich the cultural experience.
Irish Dance
This type of traditional dance originated in Ireland and has been popular among the Irish and other countries around the world for hundreds of years. Irish dance is popular with shows such as Riverdance and is known for its impressive footwork and dance formations.
Most Irish dance events are traditionally associated with signing and music. During festivals, dances are held to showcase talent and compete for prizes or medals.
While most people may recognize Irish dance as a group performance, there are many well-known forms of Irish solo dancing, such as the male dance.
Swing Dance
Swing is a variation of jazz that developed between the 1920s and 1940s in response to the growing popularity of swing jazz in America. With the evolution of music taking place in the jazz era, dancing also began to change with the swing, encouraging faster and more difficult movements.
Some Words from World Dance Apparel
From dance costumes to all dance accessories, World Dance Apparel offers a range of all necessary products for both men and women. Their online store always open for you to grab the required dancewear for dance practice. It is not difficult to explore the items. Just visit to their website or send a query via contact page to get more details.
