Couple dances of the world
Two partners, in a hold or facing each other.
🇦🇷 Argentina and 1 moreTango
A partner dance from the Río de la Plata, danced in close or open embraceSocial dance · Couple
🇦🇹 Austria and 4 moreWaltz
A turning couple dance in triple time, first popular in 18th-century EuropeBallroom or Latin dance · Couple
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreFolk dance
Traditional group dances rooted in local life and passed down through generationsFolk dance · Group · Circle
🇨🇿 Czech Republic and 5 morePolka
A lively partner dance in 2/4 time from 19th-century BohemiaFolk dance · Couple · Circle
🇦🇷 Argentina and 1 moreArgentine tango
A partner dance from Buenos Aires suburbs, defined by the bandoneon and an intimate embrace.Social dance · Couple
🇵🇱 Poland and 3 morePolonaisePolonez, chodzony
A stately walking dance in triple time, opening Polish celebrations and ballsFolk dance · Couple · Procession
🇵🇱 Poland and 5 moreMazurka
A lively Polish folk dance in triple time, known for its shifting accentsFolk dance · Couple · Group
🇨🇺 Cuba and 2 moreSalsa
A lively partner dance with spins and footwork, danced to salsa music worldwideSocial dance · Couple · Solo
🇫🇷 FranceMinuetmenuet
A French social dance for two people in triple time, known for its graceful and controlled steps.Social dance · Couple
🇫🇷 France and 1 moreCan-can
A high-energy French dance featuring vigorous kicks and skirt manipulation.Social dance · Couple · Group
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreBallroom dance
Partner dances performed socially and in competition, with roots in EuropeSocial dance · Couple · Group
🇺🇸 United StatesFoxtrot
A smooth ballroom partner dance that travels around the floor to big band musicBallroom or Latin dance · Couple
🇪🇸 Spain and 5 morePasodoble
A dramatic Spanish partner dance set to march-like music, echoing the bullfightFolk dance · Couple · Group
🇨🇺 Cuba and 2 moreCha-cha-cha
A Cuban partner dance with a shuffling triple step, danced to a steady four-four beat.Social dance · Couple
🇭🇺 Hungary and 5 moreCsárdás
A Hungarian folk dance that begins slowly and ends in a fast spin.Folk dance · Couple · Group
🇮🇹 Italy and 2 moreTarantella
A fast southern Italian folk dance in six-eight time, accompanied by tambourines and hand clapping.Folk dance · Solo · Couple
🇨🇺 Cuba and 2 moreMambo
A lively Cuban dance with syncopated steps and expressive movementSocial dance · Couple · Group
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreJive
A lively partner dance from 1930s African American communities in the USSocial dance · Couple
🇩🇪 Germany and 1 moreAllemande
A Baroque instrumental dance and a later Swiss triple-time social dance.Social dance · Line or chain · Couple
🇺🇦 UkraineHopakГопак
A lively Ukrainian folk dance known for jumps and acrobatic movesFolk dance · Solo · Couple
🇬🇧 United KingdomQuickstep
A lively ballroom dance with fast steps and syncopated rhythmsBallroom or Latin dance · Couple
🇨🇴 Colombia and 1 moreCumbia
A circle dance from Colombia’s Caribbean coast, led by couples with candles and musicians in the centerFolk dance · Couple · Circle
🇮🇹 Italy and 3 morePavanepavana
A slow, processional couple dance of the European Renaissance.Court dance · Procession · Couple
🇷🇺 Russia and 1 moreLezginka
A fast-paced folk dance from the North Caucasus, performed solo or in pairsFolk dance · Solo · Couple
🇵🇱 PolandKrakowiak
A fast Polish partner dance from Kraków, known for its syncopated rhythm and circle formation.Folk dance · Couple · Circle
🇫🇷 FranceBourrée
A lively French dance in double or triple time, once found in both villages and courtsFolk dance · Couple · Circle
🇺🇸 United StatesCharleston
A fast-paced dance with kicks and twists, first popular in 1920s AmericaSocial dance · Solo · Couple
🇦🇹 Austria and 2 moreViennese waltz
A fast-turning partner dance from Vienna, danced in a closed holdBallroom or Latin dance · Couple
🇪🇸 Spain and 4 moreFandango
A lively Spanish partner dance in triple meter, accompanied by guitars and castanets.Folk dance · Couple · Group
🇺🇸 United StatesJazz dance
A performance style born in African American communities that blends improvisation with theatrical movement.Concert dance · Solo · Couple
🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreSwing dance
A lively group of partner dances born with jazz in 1920s–40s AmericaSocial dance · Couple · Circle
🇦🇴 Angola and 4 moreKizomba
A slow partner dance from Angola, blending Semba steps with Zouk rhythms for social gatherings.Social dance · Couple
🇮🇪 Ireland and 3 moreIrish dance
Solo and group dances from Ireland, known for fast footwork and lively formationsFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇧🇪 Belgium and 5 moreJumpstyle
A high-energy dance with fast kicks, set to hard electronic music from Belgium and the NetherlandsStreet or club dance · Solo · Couple
🇦🇹 Austria and 4 moreLändler
A lively partner dance with hops and stamps, found across Austria and its neighborsFolk dance · Couple
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreMorris dance
A group folk dance from England, with bells, sticks or handkerchiefsFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇩🇴 Dominican RepublicBachata
A partner dance from the Dominican Republic with hip accents and side-to-side stepsSocial dance · Couple
🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreContra dance
A social line dance for pairs, led by a caller and set to live folk tunesFolk dance · Couple · Line or chain
🇺🇸 United States and 3 moreJitterbug
A lively partner dance with fast footwork and spins, rooted in swing musicSocial dance · Couple · Group
🇮🇹 Italy and 3 moreClassical ballet
A formal stage dance using turnout, pointe work and precise, flowing movementClassical dance · Solo · Group
🇺🇸 United StatesCakewalk
A partnered dance contest where couples strut for a cake prize, born in the Southern United States.Folk dance · Couple · Procession
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 1 moreHornpipe
A solo or couple dance with lively steps, found in Britain and Ireland since the 16th centuryFolk dance · Solo · Couple
InternationalAcrobatic rock and roll
A fast partner dance with flips and lifts, danced in formal competition.Social dance · Couple · Group
🇨🇺 Cuba and 1 moreRueda de Casino
A Cuban salsa dance in a circle, with moves called out and partners swappingSocial dance · Circle · Group
🇧🇷 BrazilSamba
A lively Brazilian dance with fast footwork and syncopated rhythmsFolk dance · Solo · Couple
🇮🇳 IndiaDandiya Raas
A stick dance from Gujarat, performed in pairs during NavaratriFolk dance · Couple · Line or chain
🇨🇿 Czech Republic and 5 moreSchottische
A partnered country dance with sidesteps and turns, found across Europe and the AmericasFolk dance · Couple · Circle
🇦🇷 Argentina and 1 moreChacarera
A partner dance with foot stomping and handkerchiefs from rural ArgentinaFolk dance · Couple · Group
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Argentine tango: Manticora87, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Polonaise: Korneli Szlegel, Public domain, source
- Pasodoble: EpiKzo, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mazurka: Huster, Public domain, source
- Polka: Chaffee A-ii, Public domain, source
- Tarantella: Apollon Mokritsky, Public domain, source
- Mambo: Angélica Martínez, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Can-can: Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de, Public domain, source
- Bourrée: Pierre André Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Viennese waltz: Sigismund von Dobschütz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Hopak: Невідомий художник, Public domain, source
- Cumbia: Joseacuario, CC0, source
- Kizomba: Obe Images, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bachata: Salsauom, CC0, source
- Ballroom dance: Johnston, Frances Benjamin, 1864-1952, photographer., Public domain, source
- Irish dance: U.S. Army, Public domain, source
- Lezginka: Vasily Vereshchagin, Public domain, source
- Samba: Jonik, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Morris dance: Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ländler: Emil Rau, Public domain, source
- Salsa: Edil Villa, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Pavane: Edwin Austin Abbey, Public domain, source
- Allemande: User:Hyacinth, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Acrobatic rock and roll: Sebastian Leske, CC BY 2.5, source
- Schottische: Javier Perez Montes, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Tango: carlos luque, CC BY 2.5, source
- Chacarera: Pflatau, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Contra dance: Sdkb, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hornpipe: Associated Press, No restrictions, source
- Jive: Ailura, CC BY-SA 3.0 at, source
- Dandiya Raas: User:psubhashish, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Swing dance: Anthonydpadgett, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Waltz: unknown engraver, Public domain, source
- Folk dance: Francisco Pajares, Jr., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Quickstep: Hyacinth at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Jitterbug: Marion Post Wolcott, Public domain, source
- Charleston: Walery , Polish-British, 1863-1929, Public domain, source
- Classical ballet: Edgar Degas, Public domain, source
- Fandango: Pierre Chasselat, Public domain, source
- Csárdás: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Cha-cha-cha: Ailura, CC BY-SA 3.0 at, source
- Krakowiak: Władysław Bakałowicz, Public domain, source
- Jazz dance: Tore Sætre, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cakewalk: Leo Rauth, Public domain, source