Gala - a time where tons of different cultures come together and celebrate life! To give you a sneak peak into the diversity of dances in the world, here’s a list of some dances:
Flamenco – Spain
This lively, exuberant dance belongs to the passionate land of Spain. Usually performed in triple meters by couples, the dance is fast paced and embodies raw passion. This colorful dance form originated in this very land and has since spread to Portugal and other parts of the world. Characterized by the lusty sounds of Spanish guitar, the beauty of the dance comes alive with the rhythmic patterns created with the tapping beats and clapping of hands, called ‘palmas’ in Spanish. The rich red flowing gowns of the dancers make the dance form even more spectacular!
Step Dance – Ireland
The land of the clover leaf and Leprechauns beckons us next. Beautifully intricate, The Irish Step Dance is a combination of fast paced leg movements set off by a relatively stiff upper body. The movement area is a combination of ballet and tap dancing. The charming rhythm patterns and artistic flows created by the feet is a true delight to witness.
Barong – Indonesia
Barong just like Kathakali in India is another story telling dance that demonstrates the fight between the good and evil. Barong is believed to be a lion like creature in the mythology of Bali region. The leader of the good, Barong, battles against the enemy Rangda who is considered as the demon queen and mother of spirit guarders. The masks of Barong and Rangda are considered scared and are worshipped before being used in the dance. This dance is a beautiful blend of bravado, mythology and art.
Waltz – Germany
Originated in Germany, this pleasantly flowing dance gradually escalated to one of the most popular dances all over Europe and USA. This beautiful dance follows a ‘rise and fall pattern’ where the dancers swing their shoulders smoothly in parallel with the floor. The movement of the feet throughout the dance are stretched out steps, the first step is usually taken on the heel, the entire dance includes rising toes gradually in rhythm with the music.
Ghoomar – India
Ghoomar, a dance native to Rajasthan, has now evolved as a social dance that encompasses women of all ages. The enthralling appeal of the Ghoomar lies in its specific and intricate footwork and waist movements that lend an amazing grace to the whole performance. The women, with their faces covered by colorful chunnis (scarves), rotate slowly around as their skirts form a graceful pirouette around them - called ‘Ghoomar’.
Rumba – Cuba
Originally, the term rumba was used as a synonym for "party" in northern Cuba, and by the late 19th century it was used to denote the complex of secular music styles known as Cuban rumba. Since the early 20th century the term has been used in different countries to refer to distinct styles of music and dance, most of which are only tangentially related to the original Cuban rumba, if at all
Kpop – South Korea
K-pop (abbreviation of Korean pop) is a music genre originating in South Korea that is characterized by a wide variety of audiovisual elements. Although it comprises all genres of "popular music" within South Korea, the term is more often used in a narrower sense to describe a modern form of South Korean pop music covering a range of styles and genres incorporated from the West such as Western pop music, rock, jazz, hip-hop, R&B, techno, and rave on top of its traditional Korean music roots
Viennese Waltz – Austria
The Viennese Waltz is a rotary dance where the dancers are constantly turning either toward the leader's right (natural) or toward the leader's left (reverse), interspersed with non-rotating change steps to switch between the direction of rotation. A true Viennese waltz consists only of turns and change steps.
