Stage performance
Presented to an audience in a theatre or a concert.
🇮🇹 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
🇦🇷 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
🇺🇸 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
🇨🇿 Czech Republic and 5 morePolka
A lively partner dance in 2/4 time from 19th-century BohemiaFolk dance · Couple · Circle
🇳🇿 New ZealandHaka
A ceremonial group dance from New Zealand featuring vigorous movement and chanted words.Folk dance · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaBharatanatyamபரதநாட்டியம்
A South Indian classical dance from Tamil Nadu, performed solo in temples and on stages.Classical dance · Solo
🇮🇱 IsraelHakafotהַקָּפוֹת
A joyful circling procession with Torah scrolls in synagogue on Simchat Torah and SukkotRitual dance · Procession · Circle
🇦🇺 AustraliaWangga
A ceremonial song and dance tradition of northern Aboriginal Australian communitiesRitual dance · Group
🇯🇵 JapanTankō Bushi炭坑節
A Bon dance from Japan with gestures of coal miningFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaDhunuchi nritya
A dance with incense burners during Durga Puja in BengalFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇵🇭 PhilippinesDinagyang Festival
A street dance festival in Iloilo City honoring the Santo Niño and Ati historyFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇧🇸 Bahamas and 2 moreJunkanoo
A costumed street parade with drumming, dance and masquerade, held at Christmas and other timesFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇮🇳 IndiaKalaripayattuകളരിപ്പയറ്റ്
An ancient Indian martial art from Kerala involving weapons, strikes, and healing.War or martial dance
🇯🇲 JamaicaDancehall
A Jamaican street dance style shaped by sound system parties and fast rhythmsStreet or club dance · Group · Solo
🇻🇪 VenezuelaDancing devils of Corpus ChristiDiablos danzantes de Corpus Christi
Masked dancers in red parade and perform on Corpus Christi in Venezuelan townsRitual dance · Procession · Group
🇧🇧 BarbadosBarbados Land-ship
A parade and dance tradition in Barbados, mimicking naval maneuvers on landFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇮🇳 IndiaRamlilaरामलीला
A folk drama of the Ramayana, staged outdoors during Navaratri and DussehraFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇧🇷 BrazilSamba-reggae
A Carnival street dance from Bahia, led by drummers and rooted in Afro-Brazilian prideFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇹🇭 ThailandThai danceนาฏศิลป์
Classical and folk dances shaped by many cultures across Thailand’s regionsClassical dance · Solo · Group
🇯🇵 JapanAwa Dance Festival阿波踊り
A street dance festival held during Obon in Tokushima, JapanFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago and 5 moreMocko jumbie
Tall stilt dancers in masks, leading Carnival parades across the CaribbeanFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇦🇷 Argentina and 1 moreArgentine tango
A partner dance from Buenos Aires suburbs, defined by the bandoneon and an intimate embrace.Social dance · Couple
🇺🇸 United States and 1 morePowwow
A gathering of Indigenous communities with dance, song, and ceremonyFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇯🇵 JapanKabuki歌舞伎
A stylised Japanese theatre form using dance, drama and elaborate makeup.Classical dance · Group
🇪🇨 EcuadorSanjuanito
A circle dance and music from Ecuador’s Andean highlands, often for Inti RaymiFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇧🇷 BrazilMaracatu
A parade of drums, song and royal court figures from Pernambuco, BrazilFolk dance · Procession · Group
🇧🇪 Belgium and 5 moreProcessional giant
Huge costumed figures carried and danced in European street processionsFolk dance · Solo · Procession
🇳🇵 Nepal and 3 moreDeusi-Bhailoदेउसी-भैलो
A house-to-house singing and dancing tradition during Tihar in NepalFolk 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
🇮🇳 IndiaThang Taꯊꯥꯡ ꯇꯥ
A martial art from Manipur using swords, spears, and unarmed movesWar or martial dance · Solo · Group
🇵🇱 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
🇮🇳 IndiaKathakali
A classical dance-drama of Kerala with vivid costumes and expressive storytellingClassical dance · Group
🇺🇸 United StatesFoxtrot
A smooth ballroom partner dance that travels around the floor to big band musicBallroom or Latin dance · Couple
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreBallroom dance
Partner dances performed socially and in competition, with roots in EuropeSocial dance · Couple · Group
🇪🇸 Spain and 5 morePasodoble
A dramatic Spanish partner dance set to march-like music, echoing the bullfightFolk dance · Couple · 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
🇨🇺 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
🇺🇸 United StatesTap dance
A percussive dance using metal-soled shoes to create rhythms on the floorFolk dance · Solo · Group
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
- Argentine tango: Manticora87, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bharatanatyam: Arian Zwegers, CC BY 2.0, 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
- Can-can: Toulouse-Lautrec, Henri de, Public domain, source
- Kathakali: Paul Varuni, CC BY 2.0, source
- Ballroom dance: Johnston, Frances Benjamin, 1864-1952, photographer., Public domain, source
- Raqs sharqi: 13th century artist, Public domain, source
- Salsa: Edil Villa, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Awa Dance Festival: Rosino, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Tankō Bushi: Akiyoshi's Room, Public domain, source
- Dinagyang Festival: Bernardo 'Berniemack' Arellano III, CC BY 3.0, source
- Maracatu: Prefeitura de Olinda, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mocko jumbie: COD Newsroom, CC BY 2.0, source
- Thai dance: Berlin Phonogramm-Archiv, Public domain, source
- Dancing devils of Corpus Christi: Wilfredor, CC0, source
- Processional giant: Jesús Serna, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Powwow: Smithsonian Institution, No restrictions, source
- Sanjuanito: G.Garitan, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dancehall: Desiresibbs, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Barbados Land-ship: Ronaldwalcott, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hakafot: Meir624, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Dhunuchi nritya: Amitbsws, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ramlila: Ankit Gupta, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Deusi-Bhailo: Enepal Khabar Official, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Thang Ta: Rameshgraphix, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Junkanoo: WikiPedant, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Capoeira: Augustus Earle, Public domain, source
- Tango: carlos luque, CC BY 2.5, source
- Lion dance: Alfresco24, CC BY 3.0, source
- Ballet: scillystuff, CC BY 2.0, source
- Flamenco: John Singer Sargent, Public domain, source
- Breakdancing: Jose Fernando tenorio rivero, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Waltz: unknown engraver, Public domain, source
- Folk dance: Francisco Pajares, Jr., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Tap dance: Jack Delano, Public domain, source
- Csárdás: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Kalaripayattu: Ginu Plathottam, CC0, source
- Cha-cha-cha: Ailura, CC BY-SA 3.0 at, source
- Kabuki: Unknown author, Public domain, source