Ballet- Ballet is French. All of its terms seem very complicated to up, but in French, are simple words pit together. Ballet is one of the earliest styles of dance and started in the 15th century. It is one of the hardest and complicated types of dance and involves a lot of technique to be able to be perform well. Ballet is almost like the base to other styles of dance. In every style of dance things such as technique are needed from ballet.
Jazz- Jazz mainly focuses on flexibility and coordination with the music. Jazz is a more broad style of dance. And has transformed over the years from when it was danced in the 1950s. Usually jazz dancing takes more flexibility, and contains different moves such a turns. Jazz has become a more complex and more popular dance style over the years.
Tap- Out of all of the dances, tap is the one that is more different from the rest. Tap shoes contain metal plates on the balls and heels of the shoe. You would uses these to make rhythms with the shoes along with the music. Tap was named because of the tapping noise that you make with theses shoes.
Hip Hop- Hip Hop is usually danced to hip hop music. It evolved from break dance. And now Hip Hop dances and/or steps can be categorized into breaking, popping, locking and krumping. There is also a lot of improvising done in hip hop. Hip Hop is probably one of the only dances that ballet does not have an effect on the steps of dance.
Modern/Contemporary – Modern Contemporary is a dance styles that does not follow al of the strict rules of Ballet. It is usually used to express inner feelings. And use a more creative steps and movement in the dance that are different than Ballet. For example. The seniors at my dance school are doing a modern contemporary dance choreographed by our teacher. But the song has a great meaning. About how her mother has cancer and she knows that she will not around forever. But how she built her life that she will go on to live. My Modern/ contemporary dance is also a tribute to 911. Etc…
Lyrical- Lyrical is a little different from modern and contemporary. It contains more ballet techniques, and includes more jazz. But lyrical still contains freedom and creativity in the dancing. The emotions, unlike modern/contemporary contain a more happy emotions. But at times, like modern/contemporary can contain the opposite feeling than usual.
Acro- This is a style of dance that involves acrobatics in the dance. It is somewhat like a Gymnastic routine. But it will still involve lyrical, and modern/contemporary steps. This type of dance was first used in places like the circus. But has now turned into a popular dance styles that is performed at many dance competitions.
Pointe- This style could almost be considered an advanced style of ballet. There are special kind of ballet shoes that allow you to go on the toe of your shoe. You should be around 12 when you do pointe, or already have a strong background in ballet.