10 Types of Western Dance Forms

Western dance forms are any forms of dance that have been developed in the west, as opposed to in another culture or country. This includes the traditional dances of European countries such as England, France, and Germany, as well as the more contemporary styles of dance born in America over the past hundred years. There are many different types of western dance forms, some of which have become quite popular and influential across the rest of the world. Here are ten western dance forms you should know about.

Here is a list of the most popular types of dance

• Break Dancing
• Popping Dance
• Locking Dance
• Kicking Dance
• B-Boying Dance
• Hip Hop Dance
• Jazz and Modern Dance
• Tap Dancing
• Contemporary Dance
• Tap Dancing 

1) Break Dancing

Break Dancing is a style that was born in New York, and it quickly spread through street dance culture all over America. This dance form has become quite commercialized and you can even take online dance classes if you'd like to learn how to break dance for yourself. Break dancing combines elements of popping, waving, locking, stomping and power moves from martial arts such as karate. The name break dancing comes from breaking or cutting records in time with music, which dancers used to do back when they didn't have CDs or MP3s to use. As a result, break dancers keep their musical accompaniment free of vocals so they don't interrupt any scratches or breakdowns.

2) Popping Dance

This dance form originated in the 1960s in Los Angeles, California. In many ways, popping resembles breakdancing (or B-boying), with moves that emphasize lower body movement and careful balance. The main difference is that hip-hop has more lyrical elements while popping relies on more acrobatic movements. Aside from learning moves on their own, dancers typically participate in competitions with teams or as individuals to win prizes and gain notoriety. Readily available instructional videos make it easy for aspiring dancers to learn how to pop online for free or by paying for a subscription service online or through DVDs and digital media downloads.

3) Locking Dance

Though not very well known, Locking is actually a fairly old and exciting form of dance that began in California prisons. It’s also a partner-based dance that incorporates a lot of attitude and contact between partners. The music tends to be funky, and often has rock, hip-hop or jazz influences. It’s not hard to see why it became popular with inmates! There are a number of different variations within Locking, so you can watch performances from all over in order to get an idea for what it might look like. In fact, if you’re looking for online dance classes that teach Locking, YouTube is your best bet.

4) Kicking Dance

Kicking comes from martial arts and is about strength, fluidity, and precision. There are three types of kicking: Front kicks (with or without a weight shift), roundhouse kicks, and back kicks. To dance kickboxing—or to perform it for your martial arts school—you need to know front kick boxing moves, roundhouse kick moves, and back kick boxing moves. But if you want to learn a form that more closely resembles performance dancing than fighting in combat (like ballet), look into western classical dance forms. Not all classical western dances include kicking; however, many have turned their attention to strong jumps instead. Ballet dancers—especially women in pointe shoes—are especially known for their high jumps.

5) B-Boying Dance

A type of street dance, breakdancing is a style that originated in New York City. B-boying (aka breaking) has evolved into its own unique subculture. The dance itself encompasses different styles like power moves, toprock, downrock and freezes. B-boys put a heavy emphasis on hip hop culture including clothing, graffiti art and record spinning; all things you can learn about in a B-boy online dance class . Breaking is considered to be one of the most popular street dance forms out there.

6) Hip Hop

Hip hop, which developed out of earlier African-American dance styles such as boogaloo and uprock, is typically associated with four elements: rap music, djing/scratching, breakdancing and graffiti art. Hip hop dance is usually done in a group setting, commonly referred to as a crew or posse. Hip hop dances are known for being dynamic, energetic and acrobatic.

7) Jazz and ModernDance

Jazz dance is a broad category that encompasses many styles, from tap to contemporary. There’s often some improvisation involved in modern or contemporary dance, but both tend to be more strict and focused on form than other types of dance. Jazz and modern dances often don’t have clear beginning or end; these are forms where you can freely improvise as long as you stay within a set structure. Some people find it easier to think about these styles in terms of what they aren't: While there's a fluidity and spontaneity to jazz and modern dancing, they're different from some forms like hip-hop because they're not just one person up front doing a number; everyone dances together.

8) Tap Dancing

Tap dancing, one of western classical dance’s most popular and recognisable forms, is believed to have developed from Irish and Scottish clogging. Originally danced by slaves in a social context to entertain others, tap dancing started becoming more and more performance oriented in New York as early as 1844. Tap dancers wear special shoes that help them strike their heels rapidly on a hard floor; many films like The Blues Brothers or That’s Entertainment! 2 feature tap-dancing routines to demonstrate how rhythmically sound tap is. Michael Jackson, who suffered a significant hearing loss caused by Ménière's disease, relied on his sense of rhythm (which he attributed to his childhood love for moving while watching his older brothers drum) when performing Moonwalker from 1988.

9) Contemporary Dance

Developed during the middle of the twentieth century, contemporary dance is now one of the most popular and technical forms of dance studied and performed professionally, especially in America and Europe.Based on classical, modern and jazz dance styles, contemporary dance has evolved to incorporate many characteristics of a wide range of dance forms.Known for its emphasis on strong torso and legwork, contract and release, decline and recovery and floor work, it is known for its often unpredictable and disorganized changes in tempo and rhythm during performance.

10) Swing

Swing jazz is a form of dance that developed between 1920 and 1940 as a reaction to the growing popularity of swing jazz in America. With the development of music that occurred during the jazz era, dance also began to change with the likes of swing music encouraging faster, more rigid movements.Popular forms of swing dance include Lindy Charleston, Jitterbug, Lindy Hop and Balboa, many of which are still performed today. Swing dance is usually accompanied by big band musicians who often play upbeat tunes that are smooth and easy to listen to.