Dance: My Hobby - A Look at Genres

Dance Genres from Dance Dispatches Website

A dance style, or a dance genre, is simply a certain type of dance. Different kinds of dance styles include ballet, modern dance, hip-hop – and diverse folk dances from around the world, such as flamenco, bhangra and samba.
Dance Dispatches sets itself apart from other publications by purposefully showcasing the beautiful diversity of these world dance traditions.
Although there are hundreds of dance styles, for simplicity, we categorize different types of dance into a few large groups:

Sometimes a single style of dance is fused with another style. Other times, dance is simply one element of a larger piece of performance art.


Modern and Contemporary Dance: The Graham Dance Technique

The Grahm Dance Technique has become very popular over generations.

From Wikipedia: Graham Technique is a modern dance movement style and pedagogy created by American dancer and choreographer Martha Graham (1894–1991).[1] Graham technique has been called the "cornerstone" of American modern dance, and has been taught worldwide.[2] It is widely regarded as the first codified modern dance technique,[3] and strongly influenced the later techniques of Merce Cunningham, Lester Horton, and Paul Taylor.[4][5][6]

Graham technique is based on the opposition between contraction and release, a concept based on the breathing cycle which has become a "trademark" of modern dance forms.[7][8] Its other dominant principle is the "spiraling" of the torso around the axis of the spine.[9] Graham technique is known for its unique dramatic and expressive qualities and distinctive floorwork;[1][10] dance critic Anna Kisselgoff described it as "powerful, dynamic, jagged and filled with tension".[11]


Folk and Sacred Dance

Under the style of Folk Dance is a special type of dance used for ceremonial occasions.

From Wikipedia: Sacred Dance is the use of dance in religious ceremonies and rituals, present in most religions throughout history and prehistory. Its connection with the human body and fertility has caused it to be forbidden by some religions; for example, some branches of Christianity and Islam have prohibited dancing. Dance has formed a major element of worship in Hindu temples, with strictly formalized styles such as Bharatanatyam, which require skilled dancers and temple musicians. In the 20th century, sacred dance has been revived by choreographers such as Bernhard Wosien as a means of developing community spirit.[1]