Gaskell Ball

Social dance is a major category or classification of danceforms or dance styles, where sociability and socializing are the primary focuses of the dancing. Dance (from French danser, perhaps from Frankish) is an Art form that generally refers to movement of the body usually rhythmic ^[1]

This compares to other major categories based on purpose:

Ceremonial dance - Competitive dance - Erotic dance - Participation dance - Performance dance

Many social dances are partner dances. Ceremonial dance is a major category or classification of Dance forms or dance styles where the purpose is ceremonial or Ritualistic This compares Competitive dance is a popular widespread activity in which competitors perform dances in any of several permitted dance styles—such as acro, Ballet, jazz Erotic dance is a major category or classification of Dance forms or dance styles where the purpose is the stimulation or arousal of Erotic or sexual Participation dance, also known as group-participation dance or audience participation dance, is a major category or classification of Dance forms or dance Concert dance (also known as performance dance and theatre dance (particularly in the United Kingdom) is a category of Dances which is performed Partner dances are the Dances whose basic choreography involves coordinated dancing of two partners as opposed to individuals dancing alone or individually In fact, quite often when spoken about social dances, ballroom or other partner dances are kept in mind. However it is natural to include in this category such groups of dances as circle dances, line dances, novelty dances, or simply club dancing in solo. Circle dance, is the most common name for a style of traditional dance usually done in a circle without partners to musical accompaniment A line dance is choreographed dance with a repeated sequence of steps in which a group of people dance in one or more lines (British English "rows" without regard "Dance craze" redirects here For the documentary film see Dance Craze. In a wider sense the term Nightclub dance, or Club dance, is used in the meaning of Disco dance (see Disco music)

• Ballroom dance
• Swing dance
• Club dance
• Contra dance
• Country and Western dance
• English country dance
• Folk dance (or Ethnic dance)
• Scottish country dance
• Square dance
• Street dance
• Tango
• Singles dances

There may be aspects of any of the above dance forms that are either competitive or performance-oriented in nature. Ballroom dance refers collectively to a set of Partner dances which originated in Germany and are now enjoyed both socially and competitively around the The term " swing dance " commonly refers to a group of dances that developed concurrently with the swing style of Jazz music in the 1920s '30s and '40s although In a wider sense the term Nightclub dance, or Club dance, is used in the meaning of Disco dance (see Disco music) Contra dance (also contradance, contra-dance and other variant spellings refers to several Folk dance styles in which couples dance in two facing lines English Country Dance, sometimes abbreviated ECD is a form of Folk dance. Folk dance is a term used to describe a large number of dances mostly of European origin that tend to share the following attributes originally danced in about the Folk dance is a term used to describe a large number of dances mostly of European origin that tend to share the following attributes originally danced in about the Scottish country dancing ("SCD" for short or "reeling" is a form of Social dance involving groups of mixed couples of dancers tracing progressive patterns Square dance is a Folk dance with four couples (eight dancers arranged in a square with one couple on each side beginning with Couple 1 facing away from the music and going Street dance, also called vernacular dance is an umbrella term used to describe Dance styles that evolved outside of Dance studios in everyday spaces Tango is a Musical genre and its associated dance forms that originated in Buenos Aires, Argentina and Montevideo, Uruguay and

See also

• List of basic dance topics
• List of dance style categories
• List of dances
• An American Ballroom Companion
• Boombal

References