Dance Styles and Forms  Most styles of dance are learned by watching someone else.  Some people learn to dance just by moving spontaneously.

Improvisation  the art or act of improvising, or of composing, uttering, executing, or arranging anything without previous preparationimprovising  improvisation involves imagination and creativity. 

Question #1  What is the style of dance where the dancer makes up the movements without any preparation, “on the spot”?

Ballet  Ballet is very structured and usually studied in classes with teachers that have had many dance classes/teachers. The movements have to be timed and done exactly right.  The special shoes that allow female dancers to move on their toes are called pointe shoes.  AaZhEOJSY AaZhEOJSY

Question #2  Why do you think ballerinas wear pointe shoes?

Ballet  highly stylized  traditionally uses classical music  performance dance

Ballet Clothing  When ballet first began the outfits were heavy, floor length, and had many layers.  Over time, the ballet outfit has become a ruffle of material (tutu) around the hips, with pale pink tights and a leotard.  Unless using pointe shoes, ballerinas wear soft soled ballet slippers.

Question #3  The ballet skirt has had varying lengths over time. What is a practical or stylistic reason the tutu exists as it does today?

Question #4  What style of dance traditionally uses classical music?

Tap Dance  Most Tap Dance is about percussive footwork made from metal taps attached to the toe and heel of the shoe.  Tap Dance originates from Irish Jig, Scottishe from Scotland, as well as dances from Africa  Clogging is similar  2yEM 2yEM  gms gms

Tap  American performance dance  characterized by percussive footwork and precise rhythmic patterns (feet as rhythm instruments!)

Question #5  How does a tap dancer create a rhythm with their movements?

Jazz Dance  Jazz is all about isolation of different body parts.  Jazz dance is based on jazz music, which started in New Orleans.  Jazz dancers must do turns, kicks, and other athletic movements.

Jazz  American stage dance  uses jazz music as its basis  performance dance  used often in musical theatre

Question #6  What style of dance is based on a style of music with the same name?

Modern Dance or Contemporary  Drastically less structured, more free flowing and self expressive.  Sometimes the dancer will wear a lyrical shoe, a turning shoe, a sock, or go barefoot.  Movements are more raw and emphasize heavy force and gravity

Modern  free-flowing, creative dance style  one artist is usually both dancer and choreographer  can be for participation or performance

Question #7  What style of dance is characterized as being very free flowing?

Folk  these are often group dances  passed from generation to generation  often culturally specific  participation dancing

Question #8  What style of dance is culturally specific?

Theatrical Dance  designed for performance in musical theatre, dance concerts and movies  requires an audience  often combines several styles (ballet, jazz, folk, modern, tap, etc.)

Question #9  What style of dance is used in staged musicals and movies?

Social (or Popular)  recreational  relatively easy to learn  usually originates from the people, not choreographers  often ‘couples’ dancing  usually popular for a short time only

Question #10  What style of dance usually is popular for a while and comes from regular people, not choreographers?

Ballroom Dance

Hip Hop

Dance has many styles... … which depend on creative movement combined with music music (or sound) & mood

You don’t have to be a dancer… … to appreciate dance … a difficult, beautiful, culturally important, and fun art form!

Just dance !

Dance !