Competition
Judged or danced as a contest, from the feis to the battle.
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreBreakdancing
A street dance with acrobatics, floorwork and freezes, born in 1970s New York CityStreet or club dance · Solo · Group
🇺🇸 United States and 1 morePowwow
A gathering of Indigenous communities with dance, song, and ceremonyFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇧🇸 Bahamas and 2 moreJunkanoo
A costumed street parade with drumming, dance and masquerade, held at Christmas and other timesFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇮🇳 IndiaDhunuchi nritya
A dance with incense burners during Durga Puja in BengalFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇨🇺 Cuba and 2 moreSalsa
A lively partner dance with spins and footwork, danced to salsa music worldwideSocial dance · Couple · Solo
🇪🇸 Spain and 5 morePasodoble
A dramatic Spanish partner dance set to march-like music, echoing the bullfightFolk 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
🇺🇸 United States and 1 moreJive
A lively partner dance from 1930s African American communities in the USSocial dance · Couple
🇺🇸 United States and 4 morePole dance
A vertical acrobatic dance combining strength and artistry on a chrome or steel column.Social dance · Solo
🇬🇧 United KingdomQuickstep
A lively ballroom dance with fast steps and syncopated rhythmsBallroom or Latin dance · Couple
🇺🇸 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
🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreSwing dance
A lively group of partner dances born with jazz in 1920s–40s AmericaSocial dance · Couple · Circle
🇮🇪 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
🇮🇪 Ireland and 2 moreJigport
A lively folk dance in compound time, central to Irish and Scottish traditionFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇺🇸 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
🇺🇸 United States and 3 moreJitterbug
A lively partner dance with fast footwork and spins, rooted in swing musicSocial dance · Couple · Group
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreHip-hop dance
Improvised street dance styles shaped by hip-hop music and cultureStreet or club dance · Solo · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaBhangra
A high-energy circle dance from Punjab, led by the beat of the dhol drumFolk dance · Circle · 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
InternationalAcrobatic rock and roll
A fast partner dance with flips and lifts, danced in formal competition.Social dance · Couple · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaDandiya Raas
A stick dance from Gujarat, performed in pairs during NavaratriFolk dance · Couple · Line or chain
🇨🇱 Chile and 3 moreCueca
A partner dance with handkerchiefs, tracing circles in Chile, Bolivia, and PeruFolk dance · Couple · Solo
🇮🇳 IndiaFugdi
A circle dance of clapping and singing by women in Goa and the KonkanFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇩🇪 Germany and 1 moreSchuhplattler
A stomping, slapping folk dance from the Eastern Alps, danced in lederhosen and dirndlsFolk dance · Couple · Circle
🇺🇸 United StatesWaacking
A street dance with fast arm moves and dramatic poses, set to disco musicStreet or club dance · Solo · Group
🇮🇪 Ireland and 2 moreIrish stepdance
A dance of rapid footwork and still upper body, performed solo or in groupsFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreScottish highland dancedannsa Gàidhealach
A solo step dance with raised arms, performed at Highland games and competitionsFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaOttan Thullal
A solo recited-and-danced satire from Kerala, performed with drum and cymbalsFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇳🇿 New ZealandKapa haka
Māori group performance blending song, dance, haka, poi and storytellingFolk dance · Group
🇸🇪 SwedenHambo
A Swedish couple dance with turning steps and a steady three-beat rhythmFolk dance · Couple
🇦🇷 Argentina and 3 moreBallroom tango
A stylized partner dance developed in Europe and the US from Argentine roots.Ballroom or Latin dance · Couple
🇿🇼 ZimbabweMbende Jerusarema
A polyrhythmic group dance of the Zezuru, marked by acrobatic hip and waist movementsFolk dance · Group · Line or chain
🇺🇸 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
🇬🇧 United KingdomHighland Fling
A solo Scottish step dance performed in a fixed spot to Strathspey tunes.Folk dance · Solo
🇲🇽 Mexico and 3 moreBaile folklórico
Stage versions of regional folk dances from Mexico and Central AmericaFolk dance · Group · Couple
🇬🇧 United KingdomSeann Triubhas
A solo Highland dance performed in a kilt to bagpipe music, featuring slow brushes and quick leaps.Folk dance · Solo
🇺🇸 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
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 2 moreSequence dance
A group dance style following preset movement patterns to specific musical sequences.Social dance · Circle · Line or chain
🇺🇸 United StatesCheerleading
A team activity combining chants, jumps, tumbling and stunts to support sports squads or compete.Social dance · Group
🇲🇬 MadagascarHiragasyhira gasy
A day-long show of song, dance and poetic speech by Merina troupes, often a contestFolk dance · Group · Circle
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Pasodoble: EpiKzo, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mbende Jerusarema: Fidelis Manyange aka manfidza, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Viennese waltz: Sigismund von Dobschütz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Jig: Michael A. Zapletal Public domain Public domain false false This work, Public domain, source
- Ottan Thullal: bobinson, CC BY 2.0, source
- Malambo: Ministerio de Cultura de la Nación Argentina, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Ballroom dance: Johnston, Frances Benjamin, 1864-1952, photographer., Public domain, source
- Irish dance: U.S. Army, Public domain, source
- Limbo: Anneli Salo, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Salsa: Edil Villa, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Pole dance: Raul Lanus, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Schuhplattler: Harald Bischoff, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Acrobatic rock and roll: Sebastian Leske, CC BY 2.5, source
- Hooping: AbsconditumEtIncognitum, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cheerleading: SD Dirk, CC BY 2.0, source
- Powwow: Smithsonian Institution, No restrictions, source
- Dhunuchi nritya: Amitbsws, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Junkanoo: WikiPedant, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Cueca: Manuel Antonio Caro, Public domain, source
- Hornpipe: Associated Press, No restrictions, source
- Jive: Ailura, CC BY-SA 3.0 at, source
- Kapa haka: Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga, CC BY 2.0, source
- Dandiya Raas: User:psubhashish, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Swing dance: Anthonydpadgett, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Breakdancing: Jose Fernando tenorio rivero, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Quickstep: Hyacinth at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Scottish highland dance: Lucas Kendall, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Baile folklórico: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Jitterbug: Marion Post Wolcott, Public domain, source
- Charleston: Walery , Polish-British, 1863-1929, Public domain, source
- Vogue: S Pakhrin, CC BY 2.0, source
- Irish stepdance: John Benson, CC BY 2.0, source
- Hip-hop dance: E. Başak, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Fugdi: Ramesh Lalwani, CC BY 2.0, source
- Bhangra: Jimmysekhon25, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Sequence dance: Johnscotaus, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hiragasy: Hopeandlink, CC BY-SA 4.0, source