Solo dances of the world
One dancer alone, holding the whole floor or stage.
🇮🇹 Italy and 2 moreBallet
A highly technical stage dance with its own steps and styles, shaped in France and RussiaClassical dance · Solo · Group
🇪🇸 SpainFlamenco
A dramatic dance and music tradition rooted in Andalusia's gitano and folk culturesFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreFolk dance
Traditional group dances rooted in local life and passed down through generationsFolk dance · Group · Circle
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreBreakdancing
A street dance with acrobatics, floorwork and freezes, born in 1970s New York CityStreet or club dance · Solo · Group
🇧🇷 BrazilCapoeira
A Brazilian martial art that blends dance, acrobatics, and music in a circle gameWar or martial dance · Circle · Solo
🇪🇬 Egypt and 3 moreBelly danceرقص شرقي
A Middle Eastern dance focused on hip and torso articulation.Folk dance · Solo
🇮🇳 IndiaBharatanatyamபரதநாட்டியம்
A South Indian classical dance from Tamil Nadu, performed solo in temples and on stages.Classical dance · Solo
🇮🇳 IndiaThang Taꯊꯥꯡ ꯇꯥ
A martial art from Manipur using swords, spears, and unarmed movesWar or martial dance · Solo · Group
🇧🇪 Belgium and 5 moreProcessional giant
Huge costumed figures carried and danced in European street processionsFolk dance · Solo · Procession
🇮🇳 IndiaDhunuchi nritya
A dance with incense burners during Durga Puja in BengalFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇯🇲 JamaicaDancehall
A Jamaican street dance style shaped by sound system parties and fast rhythmsStreet or club dance · Group · Solo
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago and 5 moreMocko jumbie
Tall stilt dancers in masks, leading Carnival parades across the CaribbeanFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇹🇭 ThailandThai danceนาฏศิลป์
Classical and folk dances shaped by many cultures across Thailand’s regionsClassical dance · Solo · Group
🇵🇱 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
🇺🇸 United StatesTap dance
A percussive dance using metal-soled shoes to create rhythms on the floorFolk dance · Solo · 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
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreTwist
A solo dance where the hips swivel while the feet stay planted and the arms move in opposition.Social dance · Solo
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreKathak
A North Indian classical dance of rhythm and storytelling, shaped by temple roots and Mughal courts.Classical dance · Solo
🇮🇳 IndiaOdissiଓଡ଼ିଶୀ
A classical dance-drama from the temples of Odisha, shaped by devotion and storytellingClassical dance · Solo · Group
🇺🇦 UkraineHopakГопак
A lively Ukrainian folk dance known for jumps and acrobatic movesFolk dance · Solo · Couple
🇺🇸 United States and 4 morePole dance
A vertical acrobatic dance combining strength and artistry on a chrome or steel column.Social dance · Solo
🇬🇷 Greece and 1 moreSirtakiσυρτάκι
A line dance that starts slow and speeds up, created for the film Zorba the Greek.Folk dance · Line or chain · Circle
🇷🇺 Russia and 1 moreLezginka
A fast-paced folk dance from the North Caucasus, performed solo or in pairsFolk dance · Solo · Couple
🇮🇳 IndiaKuchipudi
A classical dance-drama from Andhra Pradesh, rooted in Hindu temple traditionClassical dance · Group · Solo
🇮🇳 IndiaMohiniyattam
A solo classical dance from Kerala, marked by gentle, swaying movementsClassical dance · Solo
🇮🇳 IndiaKoodiyattamകൂടിയാട്ടം
A Sanskrit theatre tradition performed in Kerala's temple theatresClassical dance · Group · Solo
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreManipuri danceJagoi Raas, Raas Jagoi
A classical dance-drama from Manipur, telling stories of Krishna and RadhaClassical dance · Group · Solo
🇺🇸 United StatesCharleston
A fast-paced dance with kicks and twists, first popular in 1920s AmericaSocial dance · Solo · Couple
🇺🇸 United StatesJazz dance
A performance style born in African American communities that blends improvisation with theatrical movement.Concert dance · Solo · Couple
🇺🇸 United StatesContemporary dance
A stage dance style blending ballet, modern, and many other influencesConcert dance · Solo · Group
🇮🇪 Ireland and 3 moreIrish dance
Solo and group dances from Ireland, known for fast footwork and lively formationsFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇺🇸 United StatesHula
A Hawaiian dance that interprets song or chant through movement and gestureFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreSwing dance
A lively group of partner dances born with jazz in 1920s–40s AmericaSocial dance · Couple · Circle
🇧🇪 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
🇯🇵 Japan and 2 moreButoh舞踏 (Butō)
A Japanese dance theatre form known for slow, controlled movement and white body makeup.Dance-drama · Solo · Group
🇮🇪 Ireland and 2 moreJigport
A lively folk dance in compound time, central to Irish and Scottish traditionFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaTandava
A vigorous dance of Shiva, seen in Indian classical and ritual traditionsClassical dance · Solo · Group
🇦🇺 Australia and 1 moreMelbourne shuffle
A freestyle club dance with sliding steps and quick footwork from Melbourne’s rave sceneStreet or club dance · Solo · Group
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreMorris dance
A group folk dance from England, with bells, sticks or handkerchiefsFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇺🇸 United StatesPopping
A street dance built on quick muscle contractions, born in California’s funk sceneStreet or club dance · Solo · Group
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago and 3 moreLimbo
A contest to pass backward under a bar set lower each roundFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇧🇷 BrazilFrevo
A fast, acrobatic Carnival dance with colorful umbrellas from Recife, BrazilFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇮🇹 Italy and 3 moreClassical ballet
A formal stage dance using turnout, pointe work and precise, flowing movementClassical dance · Solo · Group
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreHip-hop dance
Improvised street dance styles shaped by hip-hop music and cultureStreet or club dance · Solo · Group
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreVogue
A stylized dance of poses and battles from the Harlem ballroom sceneStreet or club dance · Solo · Group
🇬🇧 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
InternationalLocking
A funk dance with sudden freezes, playful moves, and lively audience interactionStreet or club dance · Solo · Group
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Bharatanatyam: Arian Zwegers, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mazurka: Huster, Public domain, source
- Tarantella: Apollon Mokritsky, Public domain, source
- Sirtaki: Simon Bonaventure, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Hopak: Невідомий художник, Public domain, source
- Jig: Michael A. Zapletal Public domain Public domain false false This work, Public domain, source
- Irish dance: U.S. Army, Public domain, source
- Lezginka: Vasily Vereshchagin, Public domain, source
- Limbo: Anneli Salo, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Raqs sharqi: 13th century artist, Public domain, source
- Morris dance: Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Tandava: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Salsa: Edil Villa, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Pole dance: Raul Lanus, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hula: Ron Ardis, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Mocko jumbie: COD Newsroom, CC BY 2.0, source
- Thai dance: Berlin Phonogramm-Archiv, Public domain, source
- Processional giant: Jesús Serna, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Dancehall: Desiresibbs, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dhunuchi nritya: Amitbsws, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Thang Ta: Rameshgraphix, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Twist: Hochneder, Christa, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, source
- Capoeira: Augustus Earle, Public domain, source
- Manipuri dance: https://www.flickr.com/photos/matsukin/, CC BY 2.0, source
- Kuchipudi: Augustus Binu / facebook, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Frevo: Prefeitura de Olinda, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mohiniyattam: Shagil Kannur, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Odissi: Melolagnia28192, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Koodiyattam: Sreekanthv at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Hornpipe: Associated Press, No restrictions, source
- Ballet: scillystuff, CC BY 2.0, source
- Flamenco: John Singer Sargent, Public domain, source
- Swing dance: Anthonydpadgett, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Breakdancing: Jose Fernando tenorio rivero, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Contemporary dance: Lorenzo Gaudenzi, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Folk dance: Francisco Pajares, Jr., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Tap dance: Jack Delano, Public domain, source
- Charleston: Walery , Polish-British, 1863-1929, Public domain, source
- Vogue: S Pakhrin, CC BY 2.0, source
- Hip-hop dance: E. Başak, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Classical ballet: Edgar Degas, Public domain, source
- Kathak: Shinjinikulkarni, CC BY 4.0, source
- Butoh: Carlos de las Piedras, CC BY 2.0, source
- Jazz dance: Tore Sætre, CC BY-SA 4.0, source