For company and pleasure
Danced at parties, halls and gatherings with no other reason needed.
馃嚘馃嚪 Argentina and 1 moreTango
A partner dance from the R铆o de la Plata, danced in close or open embraceSocial dance 路 Couple
馃嚘馃嚬 Austria and 4 moreWaltz
A turning couple dance in triple time, first popular in 18th-century EuropeBallroom or Latin dance 路 Couple
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 1 moreFolk dance
Traditional group dances rooted in local life and passed down through generationsFolk dance 路 Group 路 Circle
馃嚭馃嚫 United States and 5 moreBreakdancing
A street dance with acrobatics, floorwork and freezes, born in 1970s New York CityStreet or club dance 路 Solo 路 Group
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilCapoeira
A Brazilian martial art that blends dance, acrobatics, and music in a circle gameWar or martial dance 路 Circle 路 Solo
馃嚜馃嚞 Egypt and 3 moreBelly dance乇賯氐 卮乇賯賷
A Middle Eastern dance focused on hip and torso articulation.Folk dance 路 Solo
馃嚚馃嚳 Czech Republic and 5 morePolka
A lively partner dance in 2/4 time from 19th-century BohemiaFolk dance 路 Couple 路 Circle
馃嚦馃嚳 New ZealandHaka
A ceremonial group dance from New Zealand featuring vigorous movement and chanted words.Folk dance 路 Group
馃嚙馃嚪 BrazilSamba-reggae
A Carnival street dance from Bahia, led by drummers and rooted in Afro-Brazilian prideFolk dance 路 Group 路 Procession
馃嚘馃嚪 Argentina and 1 moreArgentine tango
A partner dance from Buenos Aires suburbs, defined by the bandoneon and an intimate embrace.Social dance 路 Couple
馃嚬馃嚟 ThailandThai dance喔權覆喔忇辅喔脆弗喔涏箤
Classical and folk dances shaped by many cultures across Thailand鈥檚 regionsClassical dance 路 Solo 路 Group
馃嚙馃嚙 BarbadosBarbados Land-ship
A parade and dance tradition in Barbados, mimicking naval maneuvers on landFolk dance 路 Group 路 Procession
馃嚡馃嚥 JamaicaDancehall
A Jamaican street dance style shaped by sound system parties and fast rhythmsStreet or club dance 路 Group 路 Solo
馃嚫馃嚜 SwedenSm氓 grodorna
A playful Swedish dance around the maypole for Midsummer, miming frog movementsFolk dance 路 Circle 路 Group
馃嚠馃嚦 India and 1 moreGarba
A circle dance from Gujarat performed around a clay pot during the Navratri festival.Folk dance 路 Circle
馃嚭馃嚫 United States and 1 morePowwow
A gathering of Indigenous communities with dance, song, and ceremonyFolk dance 路 Circle 路 Group
馃嚦馃嚞 Nigeria and 1 moreEgungunEg煤ng煤n
A Yoruba ancestor masquerade where robed dancers embody the spirits of the dead.Ritual dance 路 Group 路 Procession
馃嚨馃嚤 Poland and 3 morePolonaisePolonez, chodzony
A stately walking dance in triple time, opening Polish celebrations and ballsFolk dance 路 Couple 路 Procession
馃嚨馃嚤 Poland and 5 moreMazurka
A lively Polish folk dance in triple time, known for its shifting accentsFolk dance 路 Couple 路 Group
馃嚚馃嚭 Cuba and 2 moreSalsa
A lively partner dance with spins and footwork, danced to salsa music worldwideSocial dance 路 Couple 路 Solo
馃嚝馃嚪 FranceMinuetmenuet
A French social dance for two people in triple time, known for its graceful and controlled steps.Social dance 路 Couple
馃嚜馃嚫 Spain and 5 morePasodoble
A dramatic Spanish partner dance set to march-like music, echoing the bullfightFolk dance 路 Couple 路 Group
馃嚭馃嚫 United StatesFoxtrot
A smooth ballroom partner dance that travels around the floor to big band musicBallroom or Latin dance 路 Couple
馃嚞馃嚙 United Kingdom and 5 moreBallroom dance
Partner dances performed socially and in competition, with roots in EuropeSocial dance 路 Couple 路 Group
馃嚚馃嚭 Cuba and 2 moreCha-cha-cha
A Cuban partner dance with a shuffling triple step, danced to a steady four-four beat.Social dance 路 Couple
馃嚟馃嚭 Hungary and 5 moreCs谩rd谩s
A Hungarian folk dance that begins slowly and ends in a fast spin.Folk dance 路 Couple 路 Group
馃嚚馃嚦 China and 5 moreLion dance鑸炵崊
A costumed dance that mimics a lion to bring luck and drive away evilFolk dance 路 Group 路 Procession
馃嚭馃嚫 United StatesTap dance
A percussive dance using metal-soled shoes to create rhythms on the floorFolk dance 路 Solo 路 Group
馃嚭馃嚫 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 路 Solo
馃嚚馃嚭 Cuba and 2 moreMambo
A lively Cuban dance with syncopated steps and expressive movementSocial dance 路 Couple 路 Group
馃嚝馃嚪 FranceGavotte
A French dance with skipping steps, once danced in lines or circles at court and in villagesFolk dance 路 Line or chain 路 Circle
馃嚭馃嚫 United States and 1 moreJive
A lively partner dance from 1930s African American communities in the USSocial dance 路 Couple
馃嚛馃嚜 Germany and 1 moreAllemande
A Baroque instrumental dance and a later Swiss triple-time social dance.Social dance 路 Line or chain 路 Couple
馃嚭馃嚫 United States and 4 morePole dance
A vertical acrobatic dance combining strength and artistry on a chrome or steel column.Social dance 路 Solo
馃嚝馃嚪 France and 4 moreQuadrille
A social dance for four couples in a square, with set figures and changing musicSocial dance 路 Set or square 路 Group
馃嚞馃嚪 Greece and 1 moreSirtaki蟽蠀蟻蟿维魏喂
A line dance that starts slow and speeds up, created for the film Zorba the Greek.Folk dance 路 Line or chain 路 Circle
馃嚞馃嚙 United KingdomQuickstep
A lively ballroom dance with fast steps and syncopated rhythmsBallroom or Latin dance 路 Couple
馃嚨馃嚤 PolandKrakowiak
A fast Polish partner dance from Krak贸w, known for its syncopated rhythm and circle formation.Folk dance 路 Couple 路 Circle
馃嚝馃嚪 FranceBourr茅e
A lively French dance in double or triple time, once found in both villages and courtsFolk dance 路 Couple 路 Circle
馃嚭馃嚫 United StatesCharleston
A fast-paced dance with kicks and twists, first popular in 1920s AmericaSocial dance 路 Solo 路 Couple
馃嚘馃嚬 Austria and 2 moreViennese waltz
A fast-turning partner dance from Vienna, danced in a closed holdBallroom or Latin dance 路 Couple
馃嚨馃嚫 Palestine and 5 moreDabke丿亘賰丞
A line and circle dance for celebrations across the LevantFolk dance 路 Circle 路 Line or chain
馃嚜馃嚫 Spain and 4 moreFandango
A lively Spanish partner dance in triple meter, accompanied by guitars and castanets.Folk dance 路 Couple 路 Group
馃嚭馃嚫 United StatesJazz dance
A performance style born in African American communities that blends improvisation with theatrical movement.Concert dance 路 Solo 路 Couple
馃嚜馃嚫 SpainSardana
A circle dance from Catalonia, open to all who know its stepsFolk dance 路 Circle 路 Group
馃嚠馃嚜 Ireland and 3 moreIrish dance
Solo and group dances from Ireland, known for fast footwork and lively formationsFolk dance 路 Solo 路 Group
馃嚪馃嚫 Serbia and 2 moreKolo袣芯谢芯
A South Slavic circle dance for groups at weddings and celebrationsFolk dance 路 Circle 路 Line or chain
馃嚘馃嚧 Angola and 4 moreKizomba
A slow partner dance from Angola, blending Semba steps with Zouk rhythms for social gatherings.Social dance 路 Couple
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
- 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
- Mambo: Ang茅lica Mart铆nez, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Sirtaki: Simon Bonaventure, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Bourr茅e: Pierre Andr茅 Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Viennese waltz: Sigismund von Dobsch眉tz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Dabke: Sarah Canbel, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kizomba: Obe Images, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ballroom dance: Johnston, Frances Benjamin, 1864-1952, photographer., Public domain, source
- Irish dance: U.S. Army, Public domain, source
- Raqs sharqi: 13th century artist, Public domain, source
- Salsa: Edil Villa, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Pole dance: Raul Lanus, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Allemande: User:Hyacinth, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Thai dance: Berlin Phonogramm-Archiv, Public domain, source
- Powwow: Smithsonian Institution, No restrictions, source
- Sm氓 grodorna: Uploaded by Mikael H盲ggstr枚m, CC0, source
- Dancehall: Desiresibbs, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Barbados Land-ship: Ronaldwalcott, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Twist: Hochneder, Christa, CC BY-SA 3.0 de, source
- Capoeira: Augustus Earle, Public domain, source
- Kolo: Sasa.mazinjanin, Public domain, source
- Sardana: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Gavotte: Randolph Caldecott, Public domain, source
- Tango: carlos luque, CC BY 2.5, source
- Lion dance: Alfresco24, CC BY 3.0, source
- Jive: Ailura, CC BY-SA 3.0 at, 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
- Quadrille: Silar, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Quickstep: Hyacinth at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Charleston: Walery , Polish-British, 1863-1929, Public domain, source
- Fandango: Pierre Chasselat, Public domain, source
- Garba: anurag agnihotri, CC BY 2.0, source
- Cs谩rd谩s: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Cha-cha-cha: Ailura, CC BY-SA 3.0 at, source
- Krakowiak: W艂adys艂aw Baka艂owicz, Public domain, source
- Egungun: 脤峁ａ汗虁峁Assembly, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Jazz dance: Tore S忙tre, CC BY-SA 4.0, source