What are the Different Types of Dance? Breaking Down the Popular Genres.

Dancing has been a form of personal, cultural, and societal expression since the beginning of recorded history, and new genres are created all the time. But what are the different types of dance? What makes each style unique? How are genres of dance related? Read on to discover what are the different forms of dance.

What are the different styles of dance? Start with the classics!

Ballet

This well-known style of classical dance originated in the 15th Century during the Italian Renaissance, and was created as a type of elaborate court entertainment. This theatrical style often tells a story on the stage, and usually incorporates costume, music, and scenery. Ballet employs formal steps and gestures set in flowing yet complicated patterns to translate artful expression. Fuego’s Split-sole dance sneakers are a pliable yet supportive footwear option for ballet dancers who want the flexibility of a slipper with the comfort and stability of a sneaker engineered for movement. Ballet dancers can point their toes, flex their foot, and achieve long leg lines while wearing a pair of Fuego Split-soles!

Kathak

Kathak is a dance genre indigenous to northern India that evolved under the influence of both Hindu and Muslim cultures. Kathak dancing demands complex footwork and rhythmic patterns. Similar to opera, this traditional Indian style tells stories through the combination of dance, song, and music. Kathak dancers may wear ankle bells to accentuate their movements.

Bharatanatyam

This form of Indian dance began in the Hindu temples of Tamil Nadu in southern India and is steeped in history. Bharatanatyam is a fusion style that mixes both religious and non-religious themes. A traditional Bharatanatyam performance consists of six portions: Alarippu, Jathiswaram, Shabdam, Varnam, Padam, and Tillana, which involve precise movements and expressive body language.

Contemporary Dance Styles

Dance is an ever-evolving art form: here are the three most-popular contemporary dance styles every dancer should know.

Modern Dance

This highly creative and freeform style of dance uses abstract movements to portray themes and emotions. While modern dance can pull from the core movements of ballet, it is more fluid than traditional ballet, so dancers are able to move more freely and naturally.

Lyrical Dance

This popular style combines techniques from jazz and ballet with strong, expressive choreography that leans into the lyrics of song, and is performed with a variety of musical styles that tend to be emotionally charged. Lyrical dance often utilizes upper body movements that can resemble traditional African dance forms. 

Contemporary Jazz

This lively dance style also combines ballet and jazz dance techniques, and originated in African American communities in the late 19th century. Contemporary jazz is super-high energy, and involves jumps, turns, and intricate footwork, which may require elevated strength and flexibility. The style is very interpretative and relies heavily on music.

Many modern, lyrical, and contemporary jazz dancers lace up Fuego’s flexible Split-sole dance sneakers to support their fluid movements while allowing them to execute precise technique. Fuego’s Split-sole also enhances spin ability and features the perfect balance of slip and grip, thanks to their patented FlowTec™ outsoles.

Folk and Cultural Dance Styles

You’ve heard of these dance styles, but how much do you really know about them?

Irish Dance

This genre is rooted in Ancient Celtic culture and was originally a form of social dancing. Disciplined steps, rapid foot movements, and impeccable upright posture are the fundamentals of Irish dance. This style is often performed in groups, with dancers sporting ornate, traditional costumes and performing to classical Irish music. The cult Irish dance show, Riverdance, introduced Irish dance to a global audience in the 1990s, and it has since gained even more worldwide popularity.

Flamenco

Flamenco originated in Andalusia, Spain, and is rooted in Moorish music & traditions, but it has become synonymous with Spanish culture in general. This passionate partner dance relies on emotional music: the male traditionally focuses on complex footwork, while the female dancer emphasizes the movements of the hands & torso. Female flamenco dancers usually wear bold red or black ruffled attire to accentuate their movements.

Fuego’s classic Low-top dance sneaker and popular Wedge dance sneaker are favored by flamenco dancers who want to look polished while executing intricate footwork and supporting their feet and body with shock-absorbing insoles. 

African Tribal Dance

There are hundreds of African tribal dances, each with unique origins, cultural ties, and historical significance. Many tribal dances within the indigenous traditions of Africa are performed in teams, either in a closed circle with the dancers facing the center, or in a line following a circular path that is often focused on the musicians. African tribal dances are characterized by the drum, as well as the clapping of hands and stomping of feet, while maintaining a steady rhythm.

Native American Powwow Dance

The powwow is a celebration of Native American culture during which people from diverse indigenous nations come together to honor the traditions of their ancestors. During a powwow dance, participants move rhythmically around a circle that represents the cycle of life and its ongoing connection to all things in this world. Dancers usually rotate in a clockwise motion in order to follow the direction of the sun. There are many dance styles included in powwow dance, with men and women often performing separate styles.

Street and Urban Dance Styles

These common street & urban dance styles are more than meets the eye: how well do you know their origins?

Hip-Hop

This genre developed in the Bronx, New York, in the 1960s and 70's, and was originally inspired by African dance movements. Hip-hop is characterized by bounces and rocks, and executed to hip-hop music. Hip-hop dancing flourished as a new style of dance performed on the street, with strong connections to music, fashion, and pop culture. The popular dance style incorporates aspects of modern dance, tap, and swing, and is ever-evolving.

Breakdancing

Breakdancing also has roots in New York City, and like hip-hop, began in the 1960s and early '70s. This highly athletic style pulls from a wide variety of movements, including martial arts and gymnastics. Breakdancing is largely improvisational, and made up of variations of standard steps and moves, including freezes. Breaking is closely connected to hip-hop music, as hip-hop DJs developed rhythmic breaks for dancers. Competitive breaking made its debut as a sport in the Olympic games (with some controversy), in 2024. 

Popping and Locking

Popping originated in Fresno, California, and was created by “Boogaloo Sam” of the group Electric Boogaloos: it involves contracting and relaxing your muscles, creating a hit effect. Popping can be done in quick successions or in controlled movements to add emphasis to beats of music.

Locking is the creation of Don Campbell, a member of the Lockers, a Los Angeles group. 

Locking is stopping in the middle of a quick movement and holding that position before going back into the dance – essentially freezing in a position, holding for a few beats, then continuing.

When combined, popping & locking form a basis for hip-hop, dubstep, and contemporary dancers to evolve their choreography.

Street and urban dancers lace up Fuego dance sneakers to help them elevate their skills while looking fresh on the streets and in competition. Fuego’s iconic Low-tops are a go-to style for street dancers who want to keep the focus on their skills, while Fugo’s retro High-tops are preferred by hip-hop and break dancers who like a little extra ankle stability to help them master their most difficult moves! With a range of bold colors to choose from, Fuego High-tops also deliver statement-making modern streetwear vibes!

Social and Ballroom Dance Styles

Grab your partner and get ready to heat up the dance floor with these popular social & ballroom styles!

Salsa
This vibrant and energetic Latin partner dance originated in Cuba in the late 1800s, and is enriched by the island nation’s diverse Spanish & African influences – and passionate music. Salsa is one of the most popular styles of dance the world over, well known for its rhythmic hip movements, lively footwork, and fluid spins. 

Tango

Tango partners bring soul and drama to the ballroom dance floor! Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the birthplace of tango – which also has roots in Cuban habanera dance. This sensual style reflects the resilience of the Argentine people, and employs “stalking” and “sneaking” techniques that separate it from other ballroom styles.

Waltz

This smooth dance style is characterized by its rise-and-fall motion, ¾ time music, and gliding movement across the floor. Considered the oldest style of ballroom, the waltz dates back to the 13th century in Austria & Germany, where it was originally performed as a peasant dance.

Swing Dance

Jazz is the go-to music for this upbeat partner dance genre that encompasses a variety of popular styles, including the Charleston, Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, and Collegiate Shag. While swing is most often associated with the 1920s through 1940s, it continues to be a popular social dance style featuring syncopated rhythm and improvisation. 

 

Every style of Fuego dance sneakers is designed for any style of dance, so social &

ballroom dancers no longer need to wear unsupportive shoes on the dancefloor:

Fuego’s Wedge sneaker, for example, is a new favorite of ballroom dancers who desire an elegant lift but don’t want to suffer from dancing in unstable high heels that leave their soles sore and their feet vulnerable to injuries.

Latin and Caribbean Dance Styles

You’ve heard of these types of dance – but do you know their histories?

Samba

Hailing from Brazil and popularized internationally during the early 1940s, this vivacious partner dance features a distinctive bounce, rolling hip movements, and rocking step combinations. Samba is all about passion & expression, and is heavily influenced by Congolese and Angolan circle dances.

Merengue

The National Dance of the Dominican Republic features partners who hold hands and move in slow, sensuous semi-circles. Merengue is characterized by its rhythmic hip movements and simple, march-like steps – also known as a “danced walk.” Although the tempo of merengue music can be chaotic, upper body movements are steady and turns are slow.

Reggaeton

This hybrid style is influenced by dancehall from Jamaica, reggae en Español from Panama, el underground from Puerto Rico, and hip-hop from the United States! Reggaeton features a slow beat called “dem bow” and lyrics sung primarily in Spanish. When it originated in the 1980s, reggaeton was a platform to make artistic statements about the African diaspora. Today, reggaeton has a fun, free-spirited feel.

Fuego dance sneakers are a go-to shoe for passionate Latin & Caribbean dancers! With dual pivot points for spin ability and luxuriously cushioned insoles for shock absorption, Fuego dance sneakers provide the perfect foundation for Latin & Caribbean dancing’s smooth spins, fast footwork, and intricate choreography.

Performance and Theatrical Dance Styles

These dance genres are made for the stage. They definitely bring the drama (and sometimes, the noise!) …

Broadway Jazz

This theatrical style blends traditional jazz technique – with influences from ballet and modern dance – with storytelling & character development, with the purpose of embodying narratives of musical theater through movement. Broadway jazz features dramatic choreography, intricate footwork, expressive gestures, and dynamic staging.

Tap Dance

This spirited style originated in the United States in the 1800s, and is a unique mix of 

Irish & African influences. When slave owners took away traditional African instruments, slaves turned to dancing to express themselves. These African styles blended with clog dancing from the British Isles, and created a whole new form of dance. The earliest tap shoes featured wooden soles with pennies attached to the heel & toe to serve as tiny percussion “instruments”!

Cabaret Dance

This elaborate, narrative style incorporates a myriad of dance influences – including lyrical, ballroom, jazz, ballet, and contemporary – and most often involves music and recitation. The traditional cabaret originated in French clubs in the 1880s as a form of entertainment showcasing amateur acts, and often told humorous stories as a way to push back against the bourgeois society.

Theatrical dancers wear Fuego dance sneakers in every style to help fully express themselves while staying comfortably supported on the stage. Fuego’s All-black Split-soles and All-black Low-tops are both ideal styles for jazz and cabaret dancers who want to keep their dramatic performance in the spotlight and let their footwear fade into the background.

Fitness and Recreational Dance Styles

You know dance can be a head-to-toe workout: now, get to know the origins of these popular dance fitness routines. 

Aerobic Dance

During the 1960s, American doctor, Ken Cooper, developed a series of exercises designed to target heart disease known as aerobics. Later that decade, aerobics instructor and dancer, Jacki Sorensen, is credited as the inventor of aerobic dance! Sorensen accompanied her husband to a Puerto Rican Air Force base in the late 1960s, where she taught aerobic dancing to Air Force officers’ wives. An aerobic dance session begins with a warm-up stretch followed by dancing to fast-paced music to improve cardiovascular stamina. Fuego’s High-top dance sneaker offers aerobic dancers a little extra ankle stability to support their fast footwork – and with major 80s style, the retro High-top also matches the notorious fashion vibe of aerobic dance!

Pole Dance

This performance art (often associated with gentleman’s clubs) has come a long way in the mainstream dance fitness world! Pole dancing requires flexibility, strength, muscular endurance, upper body & core stability, as well as artistry – and instead of a partner, you’ll need a pole! This sensual style can be an intense, full-body workout: since it started gaining momentum as a form of exercise in the mid-2000s, pole dancing has even become competitive, and is under consideration for inclusion in the Olympic games.

Experimental and Fusion Dance Styles

Free yourself from strict dance definitions, embrace a no-rules creative mindset, and get to know these inventive, interpretive styles ... 

Freestyle Dance

This umbrella genre of dance is as independent and ever-changing as its name suggests. Freestyle adapts and evolves with the music and trends of the time. Freestyle has origins in the 1970s & 80s, alongside the disco era: improvisation is a key component to freestyle, as the dancer moves his or her body in rhythm to the music, without predetermined or rehearsed choreography. 

Fusion of Traditional and Contemporary

Fusion is a type of contemporary partner dance that combines different dance styles to create a whole new genre. Fusion never conforms to one defined style – there are no rules! – but typically uses a lead-follow approach that relies on music. Contemporary, hip-hop, ballet, jazz, modern, folk: you name the dance style, it can be “fused” with another to invent an entirely new contemporary-meets-traditional dance!

While this is by no means a complete list of the globe’s thousands of dance styles, these diverse types of dance feature a world of cultural influences, historical references, traditions, rituals, evolutions, emotions, music, and creative interpretations. What do they all have in common? Artistry, expression, movement, inspiration, and celebration!

What else do they have in common? You can wear any style of Fuego dance sneakers for ALL of these dance styles! Fuego dance sneakers are created for all forms of movement on any dance floor – inside or outdoors. From carpet to gravel to hardwood: Fuego dance sneakers help keep you on your feet and in your flow no matter your “stage.” Optimized with the ideal balance of slip and grip, dual pivot points for spin ability, cloud-like cushioned insoles for shock absorption, and an ultra-lightweight yet durable design, lace or zip up a pair of Fuego dance sneakers for your preferred style of dance and experience the difference of dancing in footwear engineered for creative movement!