Dance is a movement, but its deeper purposes are art, emotion, cultural/historical expression, and a collective identity. The foundation of dance lies in its diverse forms throughout different cultures. Each community has its means of dance, however, the commonality of all dances is their significance in spreading togetherness, positivity, and tradition. This article will unpack other famous yet unique styles of dance seen throughout various areas of the world.
Italy
Italy is known for its tourists and food; however, another special aspect of Italian heritage is its folk dances. A famous folk dance from southern Italy is Tarantella, which originates from the city of Taranto, Apulia. This joyful, fast-paced, and upbeat dance was originally done as a cure for local tarantula bites through its hypnotic music. The dance style has evolved to include couples dancing, with women wearing colourful skirts and embroidered blouses while men wear white shirts and red sashes. Another famous dance from Italy is Abruzzo, which is a courtship dance with fast rhythms and jumps performed to traditional instrumental music. Thirdly, Saltarello is an ancient style which originated during the Renaissance in which it was seen in the courts of medieval Europe. Similar to other Italian dances, this dance involves forward steps, hopping, and spins.
China
During one of China’s most important festivals, New Year’s, the ancestral dragon symbolizes good fortune and prosperity. Similarly, the dragon dance done in China is symbolic of chasing away evil spirits, with origins from protection against insect attacks. There are different colored costumes, each of which has its own meaning. For instance, green symbolizes a great harvest, and red symbolizes an exciting atmosphere with good fortune. The main costume in the dragon dance is the large dragon head costume, which varies in length and depends on how many people will participate. Another famous dance is the lion dance, which often gets mixed with the dragon dance; however, it is distinct in the number of people in each costume. Specifically, 2 people represent the lion, whereas the dragon can be performed by multiple others. Furthermore, the 2 distinctions between the lion and dragon lie in their ancestral interpretations through oral traditions and characteristics of the 2.
Cuba
Cuba is a wonderful country with diverse dance forms present in its society. A commonly recognized dance from Cuba is ‘Rumba’. Rumba has roots of Afro-Cuban style from when it first got recognized (early 20th century) in its ballroom form. Similar to other Cuban styles, Rumba uses wave-like side steps and simple forward and backward motions. Secondly, ‘Salsa’ has dramatic pauses and rhythmic footwork while maintaining the 3-beat pattern in pairs. Salsa has made its way around North America, where there is now an LA-style salsa and a New York-style salsa apart from its traditional Cuban origin. ‘Son’ is another Cuban dance which became known in the late 19th century, which is more energetic and uses percussion instruments alongside African rhythms.
Egypt
Last but not least on our list is Egypt. It is a country known for its rich culturea and is diverse in its way of presenting community and expression through dance. Raqs Assaya or Tahteeb is a stick dance performed at Egyptian weddings; Tahteeb consists of 2 men who symbolize power while performing a dance that was once a martial art from ancient Egypt. Moreover, the well-known Belly Dancing has Egyptian origin! Belly dancing is a smooth flowing dance women perform to showcase femininity while staying on beat with drums (tabla). The dance itself evolved through beliefs connecting it to religion and migration. However, its iconic existence has been maintained in Egypt. Tannoura is a captivating Sufi dance where performers where colourful skirts and complete fast twirls to the music from traditional instruments. This dance also has strong ties to religion and meditation.
While there are many more unique dances to unpack in each country, the essence of this article is to appreciate the diversity, uniqueness, and heritage established through body movements. I encourage you to explore more about each dance style which intrigues you, as it has stories and further depth which cannot be elaborated on in a single article.
Stay curious and appreciate the world and its uniqueness!