International Dance Day is round the corner. On April 29, there are celebrations worldwide where dancers celebrate the spirit of dance. In India we have various forms of dance styles, be it folk or classical. Similarly, even abroad we have a diverse range of dance styles. Let’s look at some of them.
Well-known couple dance styles
Cha Cha Cha: It has no country of origin and is an offshoot of a Latin Folk dance known as Mambo. When Mambo was danced with a double leg movement people gave this dance a name Triple Mambo and is better known as the Cha Cha Cha.
Waltz: This dance comes from Great Britain and is an offshoot of the Viennese Waltz. To make Viennese Waltz more acceptable to public, its speed was reduced and Waltz was born.
Jive: This dance form comes from the US. It is a mix of all the cheerful and happy-go-lucky dances like boogie, jitterbug, West Coast Swing, East Coast Swing, Lindy Hop and most of all the Rock ‘n’ Roll. To jive effectively one must be able to do a great mix of all.
Salsa: This is the most popular dance of this generation. Everywhere you might find couples enrolling for Salsa classes. Though history says that salsa originated in Cuba, but today it’s the Americans and the Australians who are putting their heart and soul in to promote this fascinating dance.
Tango: This dance comes from the back-street bars of Argentina. The Word “tango” means a “meeting place” or a “special Place”. Passionate, sensual, tantalising, mysterious, alluring and provoking, the tango comprises all these emotions.
Samba: It originated in Africa, but even today Samba is danced on the streets of Rio de Janeiro during carnivals. It has a lot of audacious upper and lower body movements.
Not-so-popular couple dances
Merengue: Said to the simplest of all the dances, you can walk through Merengue. This dance comes from Dominican Republic and its neighbouring island Haiti.
Mambo: Originated in Cuba where there were substantial settlements of Haitians, the fusion of swing and Cuban music produced this fascinating rhythm and in turn created a new sensational dance. Super hit film Dirty Dancing brought Mambo most recognition.
Paso Doble: This dance is the national dance of Spain. It is most commonly known as the “bull fighters” dance. In this dance the man represents the matador or the toreador and the women his cape or the bull in the drama of the bullfight. It is said to be the fastest of all the Dances in the world. Hollywood Film Strictly Ballroom got Paso Doble into the limelight.
Bolero: The history of Bolero is a bit of a mystery. Bolero has the same Afro-Cuban roots as the Cuban Rumba and is thought to have originated from Cuban or Spanish folk dances such as the Danzon and Beguine. It was introduced in the United States in the 1930s.