Dances with the drum
93 dances from around the world that are danced to the drum.
🇧🇧 BarbadosBarbados Land-ship
A parade and dance tradition in Barbados, mimicking naval maneuvers on landFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇵🇭 PhilippinesDinagyang Festival
A street dance festival in Iloilo City honoring the Santo Niño and Ati historyFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇮🇳 IndiaPaika akhada
A martial dance with swords and shields from Odisha, rooted in warrior trainingWar or martial dance · Group · Line or chain
🇧🇪 Belgium and 5 moreProcessional giant
Huge costumed figures carried and danced in European street processionsFolk dance · Solo · Procession
🇨🇳 China and 5 moreLion dance舞獅
A costumed dance that mimics a lion to bring luck and drive away evilFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇨🇳 ChinaDragon dance舞龙 / 舞龍
A team dance with a giant dragon puppet, seen at Chinese New Year and festivalsFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreManipuri danceJagoi Raas, Raas Jagoi
A classical dance-drama from Manipur, telling stories of Krishna and RadhaClassical dance · Group · Solo
🇫🇷 FranceFarandolefarandola
A long chain dance of Provence, led by a drummer with a tambourine and flute.Folk dance · Group
🇯🇵 JapanKagura神楽
A Shinto ritual dance where performers channel deities through slow circling and energetic leaping.Ritual dance · Group · Procession
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreMorris dance
A group folk dance from England, with bells, sticks or handkerchiefsFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇰🇪 Kenya and 1 moreAdumu
A vertical leaping dance performed by Maasai warriors in a circle to show strength and agility.Folk dance · Circle
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreCéilidh
A social dance gathering with live music from Scotland and IrelandFolk dance · Couple · Set or square
🇸🇦 Saudi ArabiaArdahالعرضة
A group sword or cane dance in two lines, performed by men in Saudi ArabiaFolk dance · Line or chain · Group
🇧🇹 BhutanDrametse Ngacham
A masked drum dance performed by monks in Drametse, eastern BhutanRitual dance · Group
🇮🇹 ItalyPizzica
A fast couple dance from the Salento peninsula, part of the tarantella family.Folk dance · Couple
🇹🇷 Turkey and 3 moreSufi whirling
A meditative spinning dance practiced by Sufi dervishes during worship ceremoniesRitual dance · Solo · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaCheraw
A bamboo pole dance of the Mizo people, performed in groups with rhythmic footworkFolk dance · Group
🇮🇷 Iran and 1 moreKurdish dance
Traditional circle and line dances of the Kurdish people, often led by handkerchief twirlersFolk dance · Circle · Line or chain
🇧🇴 BoliviaTinku
A Bolivian dance that echoes ritual combat, with bold costumes and warlike rhythmsFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaHulivesha
A street dance in Karnataka where men painted as tigers perform during festivalsFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇨🇳 ChinaYangge秧歌
A lively folk dance in lines or circles, often with ribbons, drums, and fansFolk dance · Line or chain · Circle
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia and 1 moreMezmarمزمار
A group stick dance with drumming and singing from western Saudi ArabiaFolk dance · Group
🇱🇦 Laos and 5 moreRomvong
A slow circle dance for men and women at festivals and gatherings in Southeast AsiaFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇦🇪 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
🇰🇷 South KoreaSeungmu승무 (僧舞)
A solo Korean dance with long white sleeves and a drum, tracing cosmic cycles.Ritual dance · Solo
🇮🇳 IndiaLezim
A group dance from Maharashtra using jingling hand instruments and energetic stepsFolk dance · Group · Circle
🇩🇴 Dominican RepublicMerengue
A danced walk for couples, with hip movement and lively music from the Dominican RepublicFolk dance · Couple
🇨🇴 Colombia and 3 moreMapalé
A fast, energetic Afro-Colombian dance echoing the movements of fish and the seaFolk dance · Couple · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaThabal chongba
A circle dance from Manipur, performed outdoors during the Yaoshang festivalFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇳🇬 NigeriaAtilogwu
An energetic Igbo youth dance featuring acrobatics and drum music in NigeriaFolk dance · Group
🇲🇾 Malaysia and 2 moreNgajatTanda Ngajat
A traditional Iban dance from Sarawak mimicking birds and warriors through rhythmic jumping.Folk dance · Circle · Group
🇲🇾 MalaysiaSumazau
A paired dance with outstretched arms, performed to gongs in Sabah’s Kaamatan festivalFolk dance · Couple · Group
🇿🇼 ZimbabweMbende Jerusarema
A polyrhythmic group dance of the Zezuru, marked by acrobatic hip and waist movementsFolk dance · Group · Line or chain
🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreNative American Hoop Dance
A solo dance using multiple hoops to form shapes of animals and the cycle of life.Folk dance · Solo
🇲🇲 MyanmarBurmese dance
Energetic and angular dances from Myanmar, shaped by history and mythClassical dance · Solo · Couple
🇺🇸 United StatesGourd Dance
A ceremonial circle dance of the Kiowa people, marked by strict regalia and songs honoring a red wolf.Ritual dance · Circle
🇺🇸 United StatesFancy dance
A fast, athletic Native American dance performed at powwows by men and women in colorful regalia.Folk dance · Solo
🇺🇸 United StatesJingle dress dance
A healing pow wow dance for women, performed in a dress adorned with metal cones that jingle as they move.Folk dance · Solo
🇺🇸 United States and 3 moreTwerking
A hip-thrusting dance rooted in African traditions and New Orleans bounce music.Folk dance · Solo
🇸🇨 SeychellesMoutya
A rhythmic Seychellois dance of circles and drums that grew from a stigmatized past to UNESCO recognition.Folk dance · Circle
🇮🇷 IranLuri dances
Folk circle, scarf, and stick dances of the Lurish people of IranFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇬🇪 GeorgiaGeorgian danceქართული ცეკვა
Martial, romantic, and celebratory folk dances from the regions of GeorgiaFolk dance · Solo · Couple
🇮🇳 IndiaPerini Shivatandavam
An ancient warrior dance of Telangana dedicated to Shiva, danced to pulsing drumsClassical dance · Group · Solo
🇷🇼 Rwanda and 1 moreIntore
A men-only traditional dance from Rwanda and Burundi that honors heroes through drumming and movement.Folk dance
🇿🇦 South Africa and 1 moreXibelani dance
A Tsonga hip-shaking dance performed in voluminous, layered skirtsFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇮🇩 IndonesiaCaci
A ceremonial whip and shield duel from Flores honoring ancestors and harvestsWar or martial dance · Couple
🇮🇩 IndonesiaKebyar Dudukᬓᭂᬩ᭄ᬬᬃᬥᬸᬥᬸᬓ᭄
An expressive Balinese solo performed in low, seated squats with a handheld fanClassical dance · Solo
🇮🇳 IndiaChang dance
A festive men's folk dance from Rajasthan celebrated with frame drums during HoliFolk dance · Group
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Drametse Ngacham: Sabine Blankevoort, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mbende Jerusarema: Fidelis Manyange aka manfidza, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Seungmu: Richy!, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Farandole: Hans Thoma, Public domain, source
- Merengue: Garry Knight, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Atilogwu: Arch-Angel Raphael the Artist, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Burmese dance: Scott O'Connor, Public domain, source
- Moutya: Gerard Larose, Seychelles Tourism Board, CC BY 4.0, source
- Intore: Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Morris dance: Des Blenkinsopp, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Kurdish dance: Kaiwan Moradi, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hooping: AbsconditumEtIncognitum, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Gourd Dance: Donovan Shortey, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Jingle dress dance: Montanabw, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Dinagyang Festival: Bernardo 'Berniemack' Arellano III, CC BY 3.0, source
- Processional giant: Jesús Serna, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Barbados Land-ship: Ronaldwalcott, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Manipuri dance: https://www.flickr.com/photos/matsukin/, CC BY 2.0, source
- Lion dance: Alfresco24, CC BY 3.0, source
- Dragon dance: Caseman, Public domain, source
- Ardah: Abodi009, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Hulivesha: Premnath Kudva, CC BY 3.0, source
- Lezim: Runabhattacharjee, CC0, source
- Romvong: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Public domain, source
- Tinku: CassandraW1, CC BY 2.0, source
- Thabal chongba: Titodutta, CC0, source
- Yowlah: Sharon Harper, CC BY 2.0, source
- Sumazau: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Céilidh: Smithsonian Institution, No restrictions, source
- Mapalé: P R, CC BY 2.0, source
- Yangge: 01Raina, Public domain, source
- Sufi whirling: myself, Public domain, source
- Cheraw: Ramesh Lalwani, CC BY 2.0, source
- Kagura: Elstner Hilton, Public domain, source
- Adumu: K15photos, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Pizzica: Whydigitalphoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ngajat: Menuaibansarawak, CC0, source
- Fancy dance: Michael Barera, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Twerking: midianinja, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Luri dances: Shadegan, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Caci: Fakhri Anindita, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kebyar Duduk: Crisco 1492, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Georgian dance: Mostafameraji, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Chang dance: Vinodtiwari2608, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Perini Shivatandavam: Department of Language and Culture, Government of Telangana, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Xibelani dance: Maxakadzi, CC BY 4.0, source