Other Styles
of Dance
of Dance
Characterized by the creation of percussion-like musically-focused rhythm performance using special shoes striking on the floor in accordance with the dancing music.
Tap dance
Small moving jump in which the feet tap together in the air, and each jump lands in fourth position.
Chassé
The libretto chronicles the story of a young girl doomed by a wicked sorcerer who casts a spell condemning her to be a swan during the day and a human only at night. In order to break the spell, a young man must profess his undying love for her.
Swan Lake
She was the first African American promoted to principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre.
Misty Copeland
American Ballet Theatre
New York City
These dances usually have quick footsteps, lots of leaps and turns and unique moves. It is typically paired with upbeat music such as hip-hop or show tunes to add a theatrical flare
Jazz
A simple point of the toe away from your body. It is the foundation of many other moves in ballet.
Tendu
The story revolves around two young lovers that come from feuding families who forbid them to be together. At the climax of the tale, the two commit suicide.
Romeo and Juliet
George Balanchine
The Royal Ballet
London
This style is done with a partner, almost always a man and a woman. Includes the paso doble, tango, rumba, and the Viennese waltz.
Ballroom dance
A dancer stands on one leg – the supporting leg – with the other leg – the working leg – turned out and extended behind the body, with both legs held straight.
Arabesque
The story revolves around a woman who has two lovers. She is considered the most beautiful and best dancer in her village, and yet, she dies of a broken heart. After her death, she is summoned from her grave by a group of supernatural women.
Giselle
His music serves as the score for Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker.
Tchaikovsky
___ Opera Ballet
Paris
Breakdancing is the most well known type of this dance, but other styles include krumping, popping and locking.
Hip hop
Releves in which you bring the toes of your front foot to meet the toes of your back foot as you lift up.
Sous-sous
A quintessential romantic dreamer breaks from reality and escapes into a fantasy of his own making, believing he is a knight who must revive the golden age of chivalry.
Don Quixote
A dancer from the Soviet Union and a former principal at the ABT, he is known as one of the greatest male ballet dancers of all time.
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Mariinsky Ballet
St. Petersburg
Focus on free leg movement, strong stress on the torso, disordered choreography, unpredictability, multiple and simultaneous actions, improvisation, and non-standardized costumes.
Contemporary
The dancer draws a circle from the front of his or her body to the back, toes pointed, leg long. This can be performed with the toes tracing along the floor or the foot lifted to any height.
Rond de Jambe
The story revolves around Dr. Coppelius, who creates a life-size dancing doll with whom the villagers become obsessed. The ballet follows the romantic games of sweethearts Franz and Swanhilda.
Coppélia
This American professional ballet company was founded by Arthur Mitchell and Karel Shook at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. It is based in New York City.
Dance Theatre of Harlem
Teatro La Scala
Milan