From rhythm to music, from beats to body movements, dance is a form of art that is performed to express emotions, engage in social interactions, and deliver messages through words and body movements to the world. Dance is popular across the world and different dance forms have evolved with time. On International Dance Day, let us take a look at top 5 dance types that have dominated the art form since time immemorial.

1. Bharatanatyam: India shares a timeless bond with Bharatnatyam. This is a genre of Indian classical dance that originated in Tamil Nadu. Gradually, Bharatnatyam has spread its wings to several nations and now is treated as one of the most popular and spectacular dance forms in the world. It is performed mostly by women dancers and is a means to express spiritual ideas and Hindu religious themes.

2. Ballet: This form of dance dates back to 15th century. It originated in the Italian Renaissance courts and gradually became a concert dance form in Russia and France. There are different types of ballet, namely, Neoclassical ballet, Contemporary ballet, Romantic ballet and Classical ballet. Ballet dance is taught in various schools round the world. It is globally acclaimed for its historical ties, involvement of techniques, and incorporation of its own culture.

Svetana Kanwar teaches Jazz at the Big Dance Centre in Andheri after an eight-year stint with Ashley Lobo’s Danceworx. File pic

3. Jazz: This dance form originated in the African American lingo dance of the late 1800s to the mid-1900s. Originally, any dance that is performed with jazz music is referred to as jazz dance. Jazz genre emerged from street dance to theatrical dance being performed on stage.