Dance is a wonderful way to express feeling and emotion, and to celebrate movement. There are many different forms of it across the world and countless cultures respect dance as a beautiful art form and honored tradition. At Skyra Studios, we love teaching different forms of dance and watching our students grow and thrive in the method that speaks loudest to them. Today, we’ll discuss the most popular forms of dance and the different aspects of each. If you’re searching for a dance studio in Longwood, Florida, contact Skyra Studios today!
Ballet
Ballet is the one of the oldest forms of dance and is the backbone of many other styles of movement. It began in the 15th century in Italy and has since become a beautiful, highly technical form of dance with its own French terminology. There are different styles of ballet, such as Russian, French, or Italian that have variations and specific steps and gestures that are unique to the particular style. With its ethereal qualities and gorgeous costuming, ballet has a way of transporting its audience to another world. In the past century or so, neoclassical and modern ballet have gained popularity and been a way to utilize different movements but while still using the principles of traditional ballet. Ballet performances often use beautiful symphonies played by live orchestras for musical accompaniment. Ballet dancers must be strong, athletic, and dedicated to their craft. Becoming excellent at ballet requires many hours of classes and education in the terms, expressions, and different movements so they can be completed accurately and without flaw. Training your body to complete the movements with precision and strength takes time and faithfulness to the style.
Jazz
A fun and engaging form of dance, jazz is a great form of expression without the rigors of dance. It still requires grace and flexibility, but it emphasizes the nuances of body movement. There are several different characteristics of jazz and it usually incorporates the dancer’s personal style as well. It relies heavily on bold and dramatic movements along with originality and improvisation. Jazz is a perfect way for students who love to move and express themselves through dance to enjoy a genre that employs rules but also fosters creativity and individuality. The dancing is fun and energetic, making it a favorite for audiences to watch and enjoy. Audiences also appreciate the different styles of each dancer and how they choose to express different moves and steps.
Tap
Tap is an exciting genre and requires students to wear special tap shoes that have metal plates on them. In tap dance classes, students are taught to create rhythms with their feet. Tap is an excellent choice for individuals who love rhythm and creating fun movements. Tap dancers stay light on their feet and tend to dance to the melodies of music, instead of the beat. They can create beats with their feet and even perform without music. Different beats are created with specific steps and classes focus on students making clear, clean tones. Tap dancing requires intense physical training and students must be fit and strong with plenty of endurance.
Hip-Hop
Hip-hop is a fairly new and extremely popular form of dance. It evolved out of hip-hop culture and is a highly energetic and involved genre. It’s full of self expression and individual movements, and often many hip-hop dancers make up their own moves to add even more unique and exciting aspects to their routines. Classes usually consist of music with intense beats and teachers don’t formally “instruct” their students on hip-hop techniques. Certain moves are taught, but for the most part, free movement is encouraged and teachers will walk around and give feedback and help. Students are encouraged to perfect and hone their skills so that they can execute difficult moves with finesse and ease.
Modern
Modern dance is a style of dance that rejects much of the rigors of classical ballet and focuses more on the dancer’s personal interpretations of a certain feeling, piece of music, or emotion. Emerging from the 20th century, modern dance is a physical representation of the inner feelings of the dancer, and he or she draws from experience to create movement. Dancers often perform in bare feet and simple costumes so that the audience can feel the emotion conveyed. Another aspect of modern dance is using gravity. Classical ballet requires ballerinas to appear as delicate and light on their feet as possible. Modern dance encourages dancers to use their body weight to enhance movements. The proper posture and upright body of a ballerina is exchanged for stark, deliberate movements that involve utilizing the floor as part of the expression.
At Skyra Studios, we’re passionate about all of our students learning the beauty of self expression through whichever genre of dance that speaks to them. We’re proud to offer incredible classes dedicated to our students’ success and personal growth. Is your son or daughter interested in learning ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, or modern dance? Contact us today!