War and martial dances
Dances of weapons, challenge and combat training.
🇧🇷 BrazilCapoeira
A Brazilian martial art that blends dance, acrobatics, and music in a circle gameWar or martial dance · Circle · Solo
🇳🇿 New ZealandHaka
A ceremonial group dance from New Zealand featuring vigorous movement and chanted words.Folk dance · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaKalaripayattuകളരിപ്പയറ്റ്
An ancient Indian martial art from Kerala involving weapons, strikes, and healing.War or martial dance
🇮🇳 IndiaPaika akhada
A martial dance with swords and shields from Odisha, rooted in warrior trainingWar or martial dance · Group · Line or chain
🇮🇳 IndiaThang Taꯊꯥꯡ ꯇꯥ
A martial art from Manipur using swords, spears, and unarmed movesWar or martial dance · Solo · Group
🇨🇳 China and 5 moreLion dance舞獅
A costumed dance that mimics a lion to bring luck and drive away evilFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇺🇸 United States and 4 morePole dance
A vertical acrobatic dance combining strength and artistry on a chrome or steel column.Social dance · Solo
🇮🇳 IndiaChhau
A martial and folk dance with masks, performed in eastern India during spring festivalsFolk dance · Group
InternationalAcrobatic rock and roll
A fast partner dance with flips and lifts, danced in formal competition.Social dance · Couple · Group
🇪🇬 EgyptTahtibتحطيب
A stick-fighting martial art turned folk dance from Upper EgyptFolk dance · Solo · Couple
🇧🇷 BrazilMaculelê
A stick dance from Bahia, Brazil, performed in a circle with singing and drummingFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇬🇪 GeorgiaKhorumiხორუმი
A large-scale men's war dance from Adjara in southwestern GeorgiaFolk dance · Group
🇮🇩 IndonesiaBarisᬩᬭᬶᬲ᭄, igélan baris
A Balinese dance that honors the spirit and stance of a warriorFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇮🇩 IndonesiaWar dance
A ritual or ceremonial dance that imitates combat or battleWar or martial dance · Group · Solo
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreScottish highland dancedannsa Gàidhealach
A solo step dance with raised arms, performed at Highland games and competitionsFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇿🇦 South Africa and 1 moreIndlamu
A Zulu and Ndebele dance with high kicks and stamping, once linked to warriorsFolk dance · Couple · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaLezim
A group dance from Maharashtra using jingling hand instruments and energetic stepsFolk dance · Group · Circle
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates and 2 moreYowlah
A group stick and weapon dance performed at celebrations in the UAE and OmanFolk dance · Group · Line or chain
🇮🇳 IndiaKamsaleಕಂಸಾಳೆ ನೃತ್ಯ
A devotional dance with cymbals, performed by Kuruba devotees in southern KarnatakaFolk dance · Group
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago and 3 moreCalinda
A Caribbean stick-fighting dance and martial art seen at Trinidad CarnivalWar or martial dance · Group · Circle
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreHooping
An object manipulation art form using a rotating hoop around the body or in tricks.Social dance · Solo · Group
🇦🇷 Argentina and 1 moreMalambo
A fast, competitive dance of footwork and showmanship from Argentina’s gaucho traditionFolk dance · Solo · Couple
🇨🇳 ChinaYingge dance
A Chaoshan folk performance with painted faces and wooden sticks.Folk dance · Group
🇲🇦 MoroccoTaskiwinⵜⴰⵙⴽⵉⵡⵉⵏ / تاسكيوين
A martial dance of Morocco's High Atlas where every man dances with a decorated hornFolk dance · Group
🇲🇦 MoroccoReggadaالرڭادة
A Amazigh war dance from northeastern Morocco using rifles and drums.Folk dance · Group
🇧🇷 BrazilCapoeira Angola
A slow, grounded Afro-Brazilian martial art played in a circle with berimbau music.War or martial dance · Circle
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Haka: Merrett, Joseph Jenner, 1816-1854., Public domain, source
- Taskiwin: EL-MASOUDYMOHAMED, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Malambo: Ministerio de Cultura de la Nación Argentina, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- War dance: Gunawan Kartapranata, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Pole dance: Raul Lanus, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Acrobatic rock and roll: Sebastian Leske, CC BY 2.5, source
- Calinda: François Aimé Louis Dumoulin, Public domain, source
- Hooping: AbsconditumEtIncognitum, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Thang Ta: Rameshgraphix, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Capoeira: Augustus Earle, Public domain, source
- Maculelê: Joel Zimmer, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Lion dance: Alfresco24, CC BY 3.0, source
- Chhau: Skasish, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Baris: Crisco 1492, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Khorumi: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Michael S., Public domain, source
- Lezim: Runabhattacharjee, CC0, source
- Yowlah: Sharon Harper, CC BY 2.0, source
- Scottish highland dance: Lucas Kendall, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Indlamu: Ernmuhl at lb.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Kamsale: Pavanaja, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Tahtib: Yasser Elrasoul, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kalaripayattu: Ginu Plathottam, CC0, source
- Yingge dance: Zoemonday, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Reggada: Dounia Benjelloun-Mezian, CC BY-SA 4.0, source