Warm up with upbeat dances from around the world.
“Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances.”
-Maya Angelou-
A dance is a very important staple of our world. A dance can connect you to your roots, let you know more about how people lived in the past. Some folk dances tell a story, while others may simply emphasize pride. Keep reading to learn about Top 5 Unique Dances from Around the World.
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1- The Floating Dance / Lezginka – The Caucasus
It’s a Caucasian traditional dance performed in Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan and parts of Russia, especially at weddings. The dance arose among the Lezgin people of the Caucasus. It can be performed by a solo artist or two dancers. The girl’s leg movements make it appear as if she’s floating across the floor range; the girl dances like a swan, whilst the boy dances like an eagle.
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2- Irish Step Dancing – Ireland
Irish step dancing is recognized all over the world as a fingerprint of Ireland thanks to its distinct costumes and intense footwork. It’s traditionally performed with a stiff arm tight at the dancer’s sides and no upper body movement to the festive sounds of the Irish bagpipes and the fiddle.
Nobody really knows the reason for this unusual dance, but an Irish myth tells the story of a group of Irish dancers who were brought to dance for “Queen Elizabeth I” who wanted to have firm control of Ireland. As these dancers had no choice, they refused to raise their arms to her and kept them rigidly by their sides as they danced.
Whatever the real story behind that straight arm look, the dance has lasted to this day and has delighted onlookers all over the globe.
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3- Baile Folklórico – Mexico
Music and dance are an essential part of Mexican culture. This Folklórico dance is as sophisticated, diverse, and historical as the country of Mexico itself.
From the Palacio de Bellas Artes, one of Mexico City’s most historic venues, in 1952, dancer and choreographer “Amalia Hernández” started a group of dancers with colorful costumes that tap out a syncopated beat as they twirl and stamp with live music. Amalia brought together the music, dance and costume of Mexican folklore from pre-Colombian times till the modern era in the form of the Baile Folklórico dance.
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4- The Sword Dance / Hadandawa – Sudan
A folk dance from Sudan performed mainly by men carrying swords or women carrying sticks. This dance is usually performed at social gatherings, weddings and other ceremonies, especially within The Beja tribe.
The man, who succeeds in matching the heavy sword with the flexible moves of his body without dropping the sword or harming himself, is believed to have mastered the dance.
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5- Duzhu Drifting – China
The amazing art of Duzhu Drifting originated from the Chishui River in Guizhou, China. This tradition started thousands of years ago in the Chishui River as a method for transporting wood to the capital by water. The young dancer “Yang Liu” has practiced the Chinese “Duzhu Drifting” since she was 7 years old to keep the tradition alive. She shows amazing dance moves, all while maintaining perfect balance on a piece of bamboo floating on the river as her stage. Her balance and control on the floating bamboo pole is mesmerizing and breathtaking to watch. The Duzhu Drifting requires skill, flexibility, practice, and balance.
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Write a comment and tell us about a local dance in your country.
