Dances Sentence Examples
There are also four-wall dances, but that is the limit.
Some perform acrobatic stunts and dances while others are more comical in nature.
In their war dances, which were only rehearsals, they disguised themselves as animals, and the pantomime was a mimic hunt.
To this More answered, " Alas, Meg, it pitieth me to remember unto what misery, poor soul, she will .shortly come; these dances of hers will prove such dances that she will spurn our heads off like footballs; but it will not be long ere her head will dance the like dance."
The rites were characterized by a frenzy of devotion, unrestrained enthusiasm, wild orgiastic dances and wanderings in the forests, and were accompanied by the music of the flute, cymbal, and tambourine.
The dances involved ceremonial costumed rituals, recitation of mantras and the use of drums and cymbals.
Attire was kept to Sunday best, and these chaperoned dances were only for the senior class.
For fast dances, as long as you're not trying to be the girl in Flashdance, no one really cares.
Throughout the school year, different formal and semi-formal dances may be themed but none are as elaborate as the annual prom.
Dial-Up is both a phone line offering information on local activities of interest and a production company planning dances, concerts, and more.
AdvertisementIf you go to a high school that has a lot of formal dances, chances are you have a lot of fancy dresses that would be great for junior prom.
In the past, proms, homecoming dances, Mother's Day and other special events were often commemorated with corsages.
In bas-reliefs he is often shown presiding over the dances of nymphs, whom he is sometimes pursuing in a state of intoxication.
The story was the subject of plays by the three great Greek tragedians, and was often represented in mimic dances.
But most of the time was spent rehearsing the physically difficult ndayo dances.
AdvertisementI teach African-Caribbean dances accompanied by recorded music such as drums or soca rhythms and live African drums.
The closing pages, beginning at ' Tu solus altissimus ' are much more vigorous; the music fairly dances.
The team currently performs five dances and boasts an impressive troupe of musicians.
Young James often had to trudge many miles to play at these dances.
We were soon in demand at woolshed dances and our interpretation of " Green Door " was one to be reckoned with.
AdvertisementMost Tiffany designs are traditionally full-length, but teens will also find dresses that are much shorter and semi-formal and can be used for homecoming or dances other than the prom.
While homecoming dances may have become more casual, proms usually still find beautifully clad teenage girls sporting corsages, and most prefer the prom look wrist corsage.
No one wants to miss out on having the time to be a normal teenager, such as attending sporting events and dances.
You are also helping to create fun events that students want to attend, such as dances, carnivals, volunteer opportunities, fundraising, and much more.
Things like linking school dances, field trips, and dress up days at school build incentive to participate.
AdvertisementHave students bring cans of food to dances.
These dresses are less formal than those worn at dances and give you an opportunity to express your individual style.
From hearing it at parties or dances to the radio, music can bring fond memories for many teens.
Along with the controversial cash bars and dollar dances, a money tree is traditionally viewed to be a ploy for cash by a money-grubbing couple.
It's a good idea to play a variety of music, even wedding line dances or group songs, to get people up on the dance floor.
Graham Greene - Graham Greene worked in Canada for much of his life, but it was his breakthrough role in the movie Dances With Wolves, co-starring Kevin Costner, that brought him to the forefront.
Formal events - Fancy kids' dresses are often worn for formal dinners, dances and other fancy affairs.
From sailing to school dances, Owens offers something for everyone.
Supervised activities are available for different age groups for children from 2-17 years old, including dances, face painting, magic shows, craft projects, and treasure hunts.
Teen-only activities including mocktail parties, dances, and contests.
Hailing from Avalon, Mississippi, Hurt worked as a sharecropper in the 1920s while performing music at dances and parties in the evenings.
Styelin' tuxedos are perfect for punk style weddings, prom dances, date nights, dancing, costume parties and elite social clubs.
Men who favored them typically wore them to celebratory events such as birthday parties or dances.
Some popular ballroom dances are the waltz, foxtrot, mambo, and rumba, and you'll want to research the specifics of your dance before you shop for the skirt.
Latin dances, such as the salsa, flamenco, and the samba, usually call for skirts in warm colors, such as red, yellow, or orange.
Try an elegant red velvet full-length gown for ballroom dances or black velvet jazz pants topped with a zip-front unitard for other events.
Other activities may include dances, Bible study, charity drives, dinners, book clubs, seasonal parties, and even sports competitions between the seniors.
As the ride begins, riders are "challenged" to perform tribal chants and dances, and the losing "tribe" is sprayed with water from mounted tribal masks facing the ride.
It's kind of hard not to love the adorable bald guy who looks like grandpa but dances like your son.
You can use the arrows and button in the in-game menus, which is of limited use; fortunately, there's also a blank space in the middle where you can stand between dances to avoid having the game go haywire in the menus.
More adolescents have experience in mixed-sex group activities like parties or dances than dating, and more have experience in dating than in having a serious boyfriend or girlfriend.
Featured swing dances include the Charleston, Lindy Hop, East Coast Swing and Balboa.
Learning country dances can be done with lessons, online, or in your living room with an instructional DVD.
Whatever format you choose for learning the actual dances, make sure you get out to a dance hall to practice your new moves and enjoy the music and the people.
Country dancing is often synonymous with country line dancing, however there are also country dances that are not made for the line dancing (group) format.
Try a dance with a partner as well in order to experience the full spectrum of what dances can be performed to country music.
Detailed written instructions are not the best way for most learners to pick up new steps and dances.
Shawn Trautman is a household name in dance instruction and has several country dancing instructional DVDs, both for line dances and partnered dances.
Learn to Dance offers online text and video lessons for a few different country dances.
All resources on this website are free, and the site adds new dances every week.
Line Dance Lessons offers materials for learning more than 250 country line dances.
While only a few of the dances are free to learn, the quality of the videos and the structure of the lessons are good.
Yet another benefit to learning from an instructor is that you will have many opportunities to practice the dances in an authentic environment, which is the most fun you will have during the learning process.
Whether you start with partnered dances or line dances, begin with basic steps, like the grapevine, to slow music.
She declared her dances to be a free expression of her soul, - something she had been unable to experience through the ballet world.
She also incorporated Native American dances and inspired the second generation of Modern dancers with her creativity, including the now famed Martha Graham.
While there are other kinds of "group" dances such as the infamous "chicken dance," a line dance gives a sense of unity and purpose.
The fact is, there are hundreds of different dances that qualify as "line dances," and if they're done at a wedding, then you have a wedding line dance.
Not all line dances are created equal, however, and there are a few criteria that you should take into account when selecting one for your wedding.
Interactive - This may mean nothing more than eye-contact and smiles between dancers, but the most fun line dances involve some sort of physical connection between the dancers.
Slappin' Leather - For those who want a Country-Western flavor to their dances, this dance contains several elements particular to that style.
Boot Scootin' Boogie - One of the most popular line dances, this dance is also relatively complex.
It is a good "final dance" for a line-dancing event, when people have a few easier dances such as the Electric Slide under their belts.
The dance eventually got its high-class reputation when noblemen, bored with the typical balls and tired old dances, began to sneak away to their servants' parties.
Some people easily frustrate, preferring to learn and perform pre-made dances.
She met her share of critics, as many of her audience members didn't know how to react to these sort of dances they had never seen before.
She wrote dances until her death at the age of 96 in 1991.
Perhaps one of the reasons Graham's works live on, is due to the fact she based her dances in reality.
The more you run through dances together, the more in sync you will be both in mind and body.
Many dancers go their entire career without having to create dances even for themselves.
Rumba comes from a family of Latin dances originating in Spain with the Bolero.
While it's common to several Latin dances, it's particularly used in Rumba.
While efforts to control the amount of body contact were made through the creation of "International" tango in 1922, that form only lost popularity to other sultry dances such as the samba.
Many folk dance troupes have also integrated traditional Japanese dances such as the Tanko Bushi into their repertoire as well, ensuring that the dances will be remembered and performed for years to come.
While the dance was only one of the five competitive Latin dances prior to 2007, that year the first season of the A&E series "Mad Men" featured the dance prominently.
While flamenco dance itself has never reached the level of popularity of other Latin dances such as salsa or rumba, flamenco dancers have enjoyed the respect and adoration of millions over the years.
Technically there are many others, both folk dances and popular disco-era dances like the Electric Slide.
Some line dance classes are offered in dance studios along with hip hop, ballet, and social dances, but it is more common to get good line dancing help at the bars where the music is playing.
The choreography of African movement often provides a visual of community life, and for this reason, many dances are divided by sex and social class.
Rhythm is extremely important to such cultural dances, and bodies often pulse to the beats of music provided by percussion instruments.
While traditional dances continue to be used in tribes and sects all across Africa, parts of the nation are much more progressive in their stylings.
Hip hop dance refers to a wide ranging style of street dances that people do to hip hop music.
If you want to pick up the more improvisational street dances, head to your nearest hip hop club or party and watch what people are doing.
Dances that enjoyed their heyday following the French Revolution, such as the Cotillion, now endure in modern day square dance form.
Western swing dance followed, as did various two step dances enjoyed by entire towns and villages.
Various folk dances arrived with immigrant groups and by the mid-19th century vaudeville and ballroom dance were popular.
Their official language, Tagalog, contains many roots from both the middle east as well as Latinate languages, and their cultural dances are no less multi-ethnic.
Probably the most recognized dance from the Philippines, the Tinikling is also the closest to the indigenous dances.
The dance is a playful courtship dance (as are many of the native dances) portraying the capture of a bird in a cage.
This is one of the most popular and well-known of the Philippine ethnic dances, performed by cultural groups all over to world to celebrate their heritage.
The dance movements are similar to many other cultural dances portraying courtship, with couples traveling in line of dance while they form various postures and smaller figures as a couple.
Both of these dances illustrate a major factor in all of the dances of the Philippines, in that they tend to both reflect and reinforce the cultural norms of everyday life.
While many of the dances reflect Philippine heritage, they also are brought into the future by contemporary dancers who have taken these cultural influences into the wider global arena.
Like many other forms of dancing, line dances are made up of basic steps, or techniques, that must be mastered in order for everything else to make sense.
Line dances (including all official forms of social dance), fall into four different categories, namely the one step, two step, cha cha and waltz.
This is one of the more intricate basic steps found in some line dances.
For those determined to not only learn the basics, but get a grasp on intermediate and advanced line dances as well, check out Linedancer Magazine, which is devoted a hundred percent to all of the happenings in the line dancing world.
At the time, dance hall patrons were doing dances like the Virginia Reel and Quadrille, but with this song came a new kind of dance based on the French "waltz in double time" (valse á deux temp).
Unlike many other cultural dances, sean nós dancing didn't have stories or religious significance, but were more devoted to collaboration with the musician playing an instrument such as the melodeon.
The traditions of the Dance Masters are still taught today, along with new dances making this a truly "live" art form.
The Commission has created a more competitive nature of dance, with 30 dances performed to jigs and reels published in the "book" of dances Ar Rinncidhe Foirne.
At a step dance competition, groups will perform small sections of these dances and be judged by more experienced dancers and teachers.
The dances tend to fall into two categories, hard shoe and soft shoe.
In soft shoe dances, men's choreography will feature percussion performed by the hard heel.
Less competitive and more social are the Ceili dances, which are based on a dance form from France called the quadrille (which also happens to be the ancestor of the square dance in America).
In the heart of African villages you can still find traditional African dances being performed in celebrations or as a pastime.
Those Westerners fortunate enough to travel abroad either on vacation or as part of a relief organization may witness these dances first hand, often even being invited to take part in the movement.
While tribal dances vary with each culture throughout the continent, there are a few components that are the same wherever you go.
The cultural dances of Africa are, therefore, a real treat!
Native American traditional dances remain an important part of many tribes' cultures, both in a traditional and ceremonial sense.
Like most things tribal, the dances of the Indians were passed down through generations, rich in tradition and quite lacking in formal records.
There was a celebratory dance for weddings and religious observances, and also more somber dances for funerals and war time.
Today, some of these timeless dances are performed at regional powwows and historical events that celebrate the history and beauty of various tribes still living in the United States today.
From the Mississippi to the Great Lakes, Native American traditional dances focused on animals, as the Northeast Indians were a hunting society.
Pueblo Indians, located in California and other surrounding regions of the U.S., are known for their traditional corn dances, where they are performed often during the spring and summer.
In New Mexico, you will find very traditional dances, many being performed for the tribe's benefit, rather than for public viewing.
Type of Dance - If your passion is Latin Dances, a hip-hop competition is not going to be the one for you.
However, these additional dances are usually showcases in the professional ballroom dance competitions, as opposed to being the main events.
One of the other major elements of professional ballroom dances is the costuming of the competitors.
Many more complex dance moves can be integrated into the foxtrot, making it one of the most beautiful and intricate ballroom dances.
The studios originally began teaching ballroom dance steps to couples, and expanded to also include Latin dances such as salsa, samba and tango as early as the 1950's.
Recognizing this possibility, Murray sent scores of his instructors to Cuba to become fully trained in teaching Latin dances.
In all cases, the focus is on learning a particular social dance, or on learning a selection of social dances.
Not only should you choose a type or a genre of dances to learn at the Arthur Murray studios, but you also have to choose how quickly and to what level you would like to master this dance or family of dances.
Other line dances such as the Continental Walk and the Bus Stop were basically versions of the original Hustle but with the dancers turning to repeat steps in four different directions sequentially.
Most of these dances were popular on the east coast of the United States, but that changed in 1978 with the release of Saturday Night Fever, the movie starring John Travolta.
Eventually the Hustle became so canonized that it became a competitive ballroom dance form, one of the Latin Dances with elaborate costumes and showmanship.
However, it is much more important in slow dances, which tend to have a simpler, clearer beat than the rapid polyrhythms of fast dances.
Listen to your partner - A good slow dance is like a conversation - since it's not as physically exerting as some of the more athletic dances like swing, it leaves room for more of a connection between the dancers.
While it may look good, in order to dance, one has to be able to move, and slow dances especially mean you're going to spend a long time on your feet.
Of all the South American cultural dances, the Samba dance Brazil culture and music are one of the liveliest and most world-famous genres.
Some popular styles are more often seen in international competitions such as ballroom competitions, whereas other styles are more likely to be seen during impromptu dances in Brazil.
At the same time, there are very clear places for the hands to hold your partner, handed down from classic dances such as the waltz and the tango.
Of course, most clubs that offer Country Western dances have tutorials and lessons before the dancing begins - usually covering a new country line dance, often handing out step sheets for people to take home with them and practice.
They are still out there, at sites such as Boot Scootin', and usually they fit in well with the songs that the dances are named after - for example, "Achy Breaky for Couples" is danced to the popular "Achy Breaky Heart".
One of the nice things about the dances is that they are broken down into skill levels so that you can get an idea of whether a move you saw is within your range of ability or if you need to develop more skill.
The word was first recorded being used in the 1890s, and the ''Teatro Opera'' of Argentina offered it as one of many social dances at their balls in 1902.
The dance became incredibly popular, spreading through the working class to the point where street barrel organs would inspire impromptu dances in the slums of the Argentinian melting pot.
Unfortunately, changing the dance also made it less attractive to many and it began to decline in popularity worldwide as dances such as the foxtrot and the samba came to the forefront.
Their most successful dances were those with quick and energetic choreography, such as the QuickStep, the Cha-Cha-Cha, and the Foxtrot.
This winner of the eighth season of the show wowed judges, especially earning top scores on Latin dances, such as the Argentine Tango, the Cha-Cha-Cha, and the Paso Doble.
As the season finale comes up on the airwaves, everyone dances with each other, and it is a full out choreographed battle until the end.
As the trends continue to go in and out of style, Michael Jackson's dances will always remain - perhaps not as the most popular of dance moves - but always as one of the most familiar and recognizable.
It always involves large groups of people, and unlike other social dances with mixed genders, there are no distinct partners and division of gender.
Everyone dances the steps in sync, forming large "lines" or coordinated rows.
In fact, line dancing originates in folk dances during a time when it was not acceptable for men and women to touch physically in historical couple dances.
This is how the separate lines were formed, and many of those early dances have survived today.
In the 1980s, a large handful of country line dances were choreographed to match popular country songs.
The laid back atmosphere where everyone dances solo and yet together is popular, especially with younger crowds.
However, the most popular dances do have a movement vocabulary.
Colonial Dance - These dances are those which are influenced by the many invaders and traders that have come to the islands over the years.
Indigenous Dance - Like all human cultures, the Philipinos danced their own dances long before they ever came into contact with other nationalities.
Indigenous dances include things like the Tinikling, a dance re-enacting birds escaping traps set for them in the forest.
Breaking down the steps in Philippine folk dances should be done separately for colonial and indigenous dances.
Spanish-influenced dances such as the Carinosa and the Maria Clara use these steps extensively, and they can be loaded with chemistry between the dancers.
Dances to the song The Way You Make Me Feel were a big hit in the 1980s although they have not remained as popular into the 21st century.
The female version is the same way, only mirroring the male, meaning she steps backwards first and dances the box on opposing feet.
At bar/bat mitzvahs and weddings, as well as many other less formal social occasions, the hora is one of the most fun dances and most fun moments of the party.
All Nightclub Two Step dances should be done to the beat of a drum or other musical percussion to stay on rhythm.
Starting with slower line dances, everyone warms up and refreshes their memory.
For new students, the slower dances are also a great learning point, as they are steady enough to allow for catch-up time.
After the basic warm-up dances, an instructor will usually start teaching a new dance.
Studies have shown that mental sharpness is retained, and even improved, over the years when an individual dances.
In short, line dancing, alongside all other types of dances, isn't only fun to do, it's good for you too!
Start with one or two of the dances below, all of which have been embraced fully by the world, either in the past or currently.
There are also many specific steps that are incorporated into line dances.
This helps fit dances properly to music.
There are so many famous dances associated with line dancing.
Alternatively, just hit the dance halls where line dances are enthusiastically danced in your area; line dancing doesn't need that much instruction.
Some would say that it is more primal than the arts, as reflected in the mating "dances" of many animals.
However, not all dances are judging talent, the 50's and 60's were famous for endurance dance competitions along with jitterbug and swing dance competitions.
That's also why they like group dances like the Time Warp or Boot Scootin' Boogie.However, if you're hoping to dance with that special someone, you might want to stay away from the dance circles; to an outsider, they seem very unwelcoming.
You just face each other and dance separately, keeping lots of smiles and eye contact to show you're enjoying yourself.Slow dances, on the other hand, are a bit more complicated.
If you are looking for certain dances, search the database of dances; likewise, all the routines by a given choreographer are in the choreographers' database.
As a line dance site, the vast majority of the dances available are traditional line dances; however, don't forget that line dances extend beyond the realm of country music.
For example, the Macarena and the Electric Slide are also considered line dances.
For this reason, the database of dances on Kickit includes an impressive number of dances (currently more than 50,000).
Find dances by name or simply go to the favorites lists and choose a dance that is very popular, even if you have never heard of it before.
You can also search by choreographer, at which point you can see all of his dances that are listed on the site.
Many dancers and choreographers have ideas about certain dances, but don't know what the perfect song for the dance would be.
Kickit conducts surveys where members report which dances they know and which dances they like best.
If you're not sure which dances will get your guests out on the floor or get the young members of your dance team excited to perform, the lists of popular line dances can help you find the perfect dance.
Whether you subscribe or not, check out this fantastic resource for dancers and choreographers, and then add your favorite dances and dance events to their databases to help future visitors to the site find the most information possible.
The more line dance classes you take, the stronger your vocabulary becomes, the quicker you'll pick up the basics and be ready to either embellish the moves or learn the more complicated line dances.
Grapevines are very common moves in line dances; climbing grapevines are not exactly common, but they can be a powerful part of a line dance.
Because line dances are always being created along with new songs, even the experienced people at a country western dance hall wouldn't know all the new steps in the right order.
The dances taught are usually first a common dance for newcomers to learn, and then a more complex or new dance for everyone to show off later in the evening.
These kinds of lessons usually focus on the specific moves (such as the grapevine) so you have the ability to quickly and easily pick up new dances.
Regardless of how and where you learn some line dancing, be sure to request some line dances when you go to weddings, or jump in and join the other dancers when out at a bar.
If you want to have lots of fun at social events where music and dancing are common, knowing a few beginners' line dances can make the difference between having an okay time and dancing the night away.
Line dances can be tons of fun because you dance with multiple people at once and if you mess up the steps, you won't be stepping on your partner's toes.
The following country line dances are designated for beginners.
For complete step sheets of every one of these beginners' line dances, visit Blazing Boots, a website dedicated to country music and dancing.
There you will find YouTube videos of many of these dances so you can decide which ones look like the most fun (or the easiest) to learn.
A complete step sheet for each dance can be found on this website; you'll find all these dances under the 'beginner dances' designation.
Don't forget to check out the more advanced dances once you've mastered these.
While the world of line dancing is inevitably geared toward country music, there are also plenty of line dances that are set to popular music.
If you're not into country music, one of these dances may appeal to you more than the dances listed above.
What's more, these line dances are generally very well known.
All of these dances can be found on YouTube, with the corresponding line dance step sheets available at many sites on the Internet due to the popularity of these dances.
This can be a very effective route because you can be sure that the dances taught during the instructional session will come back a few hours later, giving you the opportunity to practice them and have fun.
Several line dance DVDs exist, many of them specializing in country line dances, but also a few for popular music line dances such as The Macarena.
Try Shawn Trautman's Party Line Dances (popular music) or Essential Line Dances (country music) for comprehensive instruction, step by step.
Whatever route you choose to learn the dances, be sure to enjoy the process and be prepared to enjoy dancing every time you get the chance.
There are many segments on YouTube that teach the steps to many different country line dances.
If you're planning a country-western event, having a list of line dances and songs that are popular can help you make the event even more fun.
It also has over 1300 dances listed in the "Dance Charts" database, which is searchable by several different criteria.
This can be especially helpful when trying to plan what dances to do with a particular group or what songs to have playing for your party.
If many other people are looking for a dance, or it's something that just started spreading through the line dance community, this is where you can find it and be sure you're looking at the most contemporary line dances.
You can get a list of line dances and songs based on any of these criteria.
Perhaps most importantly, you can do a search for line dances based on skill level (from "Absolute Beginner" to "Advanced") as well as on couples, partners, or mixed styles.
With this much control over what you are searching for, finding the right mix of dances is a breeze.
All of the scripts contain step sheet links, but a few also have links to videos of the dances to help you learn.
Bader is a long-time dance choreographer who created dozens of line dances, including the dance that eventually became a smash hit with Brooks & Dunn's Boot Scootin' Boogie.
All of the songs listed on his site include step sheets and, since he created them, notes from the choreographer about similarities to other dances, and even a curriculum of dances to learn to improve your skills.
In some places he links YouTube videos to the songs in his list, but the real resource is a link to his series of DVDs that teach all of the dances.
Remember that just like the old English line dances, the name of a particular dance may change based on the time and place it is performed.
Even more confusing is when the same name is used for two different dances; for example, there are many variations of the wedding favorite "the Electric Slide."
Just watch the dances and share the names you know them by because the point of them is to enjoy moving with your friends on the dance floor to the music you love.
Once you have mastered these two dances and how to use step sheets, look into the plenitude of line dances that already exist, or start making up some of your very own.
Early Japanese dances were, like many parts of the culture, imported and influenced by mainland China; for example, the earliest two-man dance form (known as "gigaku") was a version of the traditional lion dance.
As dances spread and evolved, they carried with them the seeds of what have become the established theatrical arts of Japan.
Small segments of kabuki plays, dances known as "nihon buyo", were performed as solo performances and the "onnagata" (male actors playing female roles) were the equivalent of today's movie star celebrities.
You can get a wide variety of dances, and best of all you can take the classes in the privacy of your own home!
You can find a lot of dances taught on YouTube - usually on two different levels.
There are completely free lessons from people like "PhoenixFire110", who starts with "Copperhead Road" and goes on to teach several of the most popular line dances from her living room.
The dance is done almost entirely in a closed, standard dance frame, and like most couples dances, it begins with the lead's left foot stepping forward, the follow's right foot stepping back.
Unfortunately, while the two-step is very popular at country western clubs, it's considered a fundamental dance form, and usually dance lessons are focused on line dances.
The two-step is a very fast and fun dance, with a lot of room for self-expression that makes it one of the most exhilarating partner dances out there.
Country line dancing actually has its roots in medieval England and France, where group dances were performed from village celebrations to the highest courts in the land.
When these various dances came to America with the immigrants, they were carried west on the frontier, and took the form of square dances and dances like the two-step.
Dances are usually divided into sections, with each section given a descriptive name based on what is done at that moment.
Going to an actual group is probably a faster way than trying to learn on the Internet, even with the plethora of YouTube videos on dances like the TushPush.
This position is similar to that of the waltz or other slow formal dances.
These historic dances often took on a sensual nature for this reason, and they continue to be associated with such things today.
Many ballroom dances involve the couple moving across the entire dance floor; however, the Rumba does not utilize the entire dancing space.
Asian historians have some drawings of movement forms such as the martial arts, but in Europe it was more common to simply define dances in terms of their specific moves.
Since music was also interpreted subjectively, there was really no way for an accurate record of dances or music to be kept.
During the Industrial Revolution and after, dance remained a popular pastime and the step diagrams became a very easy way for people to learn new and popular dances as they spread across the globe.
While the first charts came from the courts of royalty in Europe, as America gained prominence worldwide it also became the place where the new dances were created.
Today on the Internet theses diagrams along with new ones are still used to teach the basic steps to all sorts of dances such as the Salsa or Rumba.
There are several websites that provide a complete list of country dances and songs.
A few of these resources can be accessed free of charge so that you can get going learning some country dances in no time at all.
For exhaustive lists of line dances, check out the following websites.
Wikipedia's page on line dancing offers a long list of country line dances, claiming to have selected the most popular ones.
The list also designates between classic line dances and those that are newer to the line dance scene.
While the classics may be to songs that are no longer heard every day on the radio, these classic line dances are sure to be commonly chosen ones at any sort of event where group line dancing exists.
For example, many line dances are popular choices for wedding receptions and family parties.
This website keeps a list of dances that instructors have recently taught at the Sundance Saloon.
In addition, some dances in this list have video demos of the line dance in question; especially if you combine the step sheet with the video, learning the dance is sure to be quick and easy!
Line Dance Lessons is a great website for online learning, but it can also simply be used as a resource for knowing what line dances are out there.
The site offers a few free lessons so that you can try the online learning format before purchasing any remaining lessons, and you don't have to pay to access the list of country line dances and songs that the website offers lessons for.
While perusing these lists of line dances, it's a good idea to write down the names of the dances you would most like to learn.
A good way to preselect dances is to keep YouTube open in your browser so that you can type in the name of any dance and see a video of people dancing to it.
While you may have to hunt a bit to find a video that clearly shows the steps, you should be able to find most line dances in this manner.
For experienced dancers, learning line dances from videos and from a free step sheet found online can prove more than adequate.
Learning line dances in person is often less frustrating and more fun than trying to learn on your own.
Regardless of how you go about learn line dances, you're sure to enjoy the world of country line dancing.
Illustrated dance steps can be a great way to both get a taste of new dances and also refresh your memory of the choreography.
The earliest images of dance steps are from the renaissance, when dancing masters who traveled from village to village would try to record their new dances for posterity.
Most dances were lost, but when the printing press became more readily available, volumes of dances such as Arbaut's Orchesographie were created.
Medieval re-enactors today use volumes such as this one to perform dances from the Renaissance.
For obvious reasons, these kinds of illustrations work best with dances that have basic steps or only minor variations, such as the Tango or the Foxtrot.
This is a huge mistake, because all dances are far more than just footwork.
By creating a common vocabulary, the dances have literally spread all over the world.
Celebrated all over the world, this dance is the most popular of hundreds of dances from these islands.
There are many influences for the dances of the Philippines, ranging from ancient battles to cultural influences from colonists.
Of course, the dancers don't use real traps in their folk dances.
Without ever having to leave your computer, you can learn some basic dances such as the Boot Scootin' Boogie or the Texas Two Step.
Latin American dances are very popular nowadays, thanks to the recent exposure they have received from ballroom dance TV shows and Internet clips.
Classic partner dances such as the Samba, Rumba and Cha Cha have enjoyed a distinct revival and are favorites of the younger generations of dancers.
So many ballroom and partner dances have come from Latin America that the vast majority of the population is familiar with such Spanish-derived names as Bolero, Lambada, and Merengue.
Embraced internationally in the form of DanceSport competitions, as well as finding their way into the social dance scene, Latin American dances are well celebrated in practically every region of the world.
Today, after much research, development and international agreement, there are five recognized "Latin" dances - the Samba, Rumba, and Cha Cha (from Latin America), the Paso Doble (from Europe), and the Jive (from North America).
Each of these five dances has its own unique roots in history, having had an illustrious journey on the way to the international recognition and commonplace terminology it enjoys today.
The three Latin American dances (Samba, Rumba, Cha Cha) evolved originally from a fusion of indigenous and European dance forms.
Slaves were also imported from West Africa, and this too had an impact on the development of these three primary dances.
The more sensual parts of the dances were developed in the mid-1800s, including body rolls and touching the navel, which were immediately denounced as sinful by Portuguese clergy.
Despite this, the dances continued to gain momentum in Europe.
Finally, the three primary dances were introduced to the United States at the turn of the 20th century.
America discovered these dances around the same time they enjoyed a revival in Europe.
Some speculate the moves were copied from slaves who observed the war dances of the Seminole Indians in Florida, while others argue that the Indians actually stole it from the slaves.
Several of today's most popular competitive dances have roots in South American movement, and that's only the start of these popular dances.
One of the oldest Latin dances, samba's origins are hard to pinpoint.
Originally known as "Cuban Son" it became popular in the 1920s, taking elements of the mambo and other ballroom dances and mixing them with African folkloric moves.
While these are the most well-known Latin American dances, there are many other forms that have histories as old and varied.
Candomble, Mexican dances, and Capoeira are only a few other examples of dance forms that started in South America and spread throughout the world.
Today these dances are found in almost every major city and dance school, regardless of nationality.
You can watch fun and carefree dances such as Fast Swing Dancing by LindyHop411, or experience an old classic like Swing Time featuring Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire.
Swing dancing is one of the most fun social dances to learn.
Swing is a general term for a variety of dances, ranging from basic to professional caliber routines.
Like all cultures, there were indigenous dances in the native cultures of the Mayans and Aztecs.
When the Spanish conquistadors arrived, the European dance styles of Flamenco and courtly dances came with them.
Over the centuries, the original dances have been preserved through an oral dance teaching tradition.
At the same time, new Latin dances blending the cultural styles have generated a strong and robust movement vocabulary.
Danza is the modern form of the ritual dances of the indigenous peoples of Mexico.
Usually these dances are performed at community festivals and during religious ceremonies.
Mestizo is the word for the dances that show a heavy Western influence.
This genre includes elements of Spanish dances such as Flamenco and Bolero, as well as the courtship dances from the Renaissance.
Bailes Regionales are dances that come from the individual areas of Mexico.
Each of the regional dances has its own choreographic form, but the costumes are the real signature of each different piece.
These dances are done in theatrical performances, especially by Mexican folkloric dance groups around the world.
Each company performs a variety of dances from various parts of Mexico, but each company generally exhibits more depth in the area in which the primary director was trained.
Just as Mexico is a vibrant and diverse country, folkloric dances of Mexico continue to grow and thrill both audiences and dancers as they share in their historic art.
Because of Michael Jackson's popularity, there are many options for learning his dances online, even for free.
Samba dances have long been established as a popular form of ballroom dancing.
The term Samba actually refers to a group of dances performed to similar music.
There's no one set "Samba" dance style, but rather a diverse group of dances performed to the samba beat with similar steps.
Ballroom samba dances are also partner dances but they differ from Samba de Gafieira in several ways.
Many of the ballroom samba moves borrow from Afro-Brazilian dances.
In her book on the subject published in 2003, Tina Hobin suggests that it evolved out of "fertility cults, religious rituals, magic and secular dances" designed to worship matriarchal deities.
While there are many different types of ballroom dance steps (such as the rhythm dances, the Latin dances, and more) many are similar and can be used to teach several different types of dance.
The Native American Indian Rain Dance is one of several rain dances known around the world.
Many indigenous cultures have rain dances as part of their folk dancing, but the Indian Rain Dance in North America is one of the most well-known versions.
In agricultural societies where survival depends on growing and harvesting food, rain dances are common and are used to encourage rainfall.
Of course, a good harvest requires both rain and sunlight, so there is some confusion about whether or not the rain dances are primarily for rain or whether they are simply a dance to encourage a good harvest.
Whether a tribe performed harvest-protecting dances to encourage rainfall or sunlight also depended on where the tribe was located.
Rain dances were most common in the Southwest, where rainfall was often inadequate.
One of the common characteristicof this dance regardless of tribal origin is that it is performed by both men and women as opposed to most other dances, which are performed only by the men of the tribe.
In addition, the dance is very easy to recognize for outsiders because it is performed in a zigzag pattern of movement instead of most of the other cultural dances of Native American tribes, which are performed in a circle.
Indian Rain Dances require special costuming.
The rain dance is just one of the Native American traditional dances, and is an integral part of not only the dance culture of Native Americans, but also the culture of Indians as a whole.
Mexican dances offer diverse choreography and style.
From the Mexican Hat Dance to special seasonal dances, you can learn a lot about Mexico and its people through the art of local dances.
Thanks to the crossover between the two cultures, many Americans know the names of Mexican dances.
The name translates into "folkloric dance" in English, and the dance infuses elements of ballet into traditional cultural dances.
Mexican dances focus on the joyful celebrations of life and are usually about love, courtship, and light-hearted topics.
This explains why there are dances devoted solely to agriculture, and why they hold a special place in Mexico's history.
Some smaller groups of traditional Mexican farmers still perform these dances in hopes of an abundant harvest or to celebrate the nature that surrounds them.
Others perform these dances as entertainment for tourists, educators, and for their own enjoyment.
Otther traditional Mexican dances celebrate various indigenous animals, such as the iguana.
If you would like to experience Mexican dances, either as a participant or spectator, consider visiting a cultural festival or browsing online for video clips.
Even though many of the dances originated in Europe and other countries, American dancers have not only helped preserve the art of ballroom dancing, but also developed it into whole new areas of entertainment.
Even video games feature competitive ballroom, and as new technologies develop the classic dances, the new forms seem to go right along with them.
While some partners compete in everything from the tango and salsa to the waltz and foxtrot, other couples specialize in Latin dances or waltzing.
Not all competitions require pre-registration for exactly which dances you will compete in, but you will often be asked for this information as part of registration.