Popular Dance

This page covers all forms of dance except ballet and related forms, for which see Classical Dance.

Countries of Origin

The tango originated in		Argentina
The samba, and the bossa nova (which is similar to the samba) originated in		Brazil
The conga, rumba, cha–cha, mambo and habanera originated in		Cuba
The gavotte originated in		France
The csárdás is a traditional dance of		Hungary
The mazurka is the national dance of		Poland
The pasa doble originated in		Spain

Dances (etc.)

Slow rumba–style dance from Guadeloupe and Martinique, made famous by a Cole Porter song of 1935		Beguine
Originated among the African–American population of the southern US states, becoming a national craze during the 1920s		Black Bottom
Spanish dance in 3/4 time, performed as a solo or with a partner, often accompanied by guitar and castanets; popular since the late 18th century		Bolero
Brazilian dance or music style – a blend of samba and jazz – popularised in the 1950s and 60s by singer/songwriter/guitarist João Gilberto, composer Tom Jobim and lyricist Vinicius de Moraes; name is Portuguese for 'new trend' or 'new wave'		Bossa Nova
Dance troupe associated with the Folies Bergere, Paris, from 1932; founded by Margaret Kelly (d. 2005)		Bluebell Girls
Type of dance originating in Spain (credited to a dancer from Cadiz, around 1780) and also associated with Cuba; also the name of a short jacket with long sleeves		Bolero
High–energy dance originating in French music hall in the early 19th century: made famous in the 1890s by professional dancers such as La Goulue (Louise Weber) and Jane Avril – both regular performers at the Moulin Rouge in Paris		Can–can
A square dance figure in which couples pass back to back		Do–si–do (dos–a–dos)
Traditional Maori dance form – one type of which (a war dance) is performed with great relish by the New Zealand rugby team (All Blacks) before each game		Haka
1975 dance craze spawned by a Top 10 hit (US No. 1) for Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony		Hustle
Dance craze of the late 1980s (aided by a worldwide 1989 hit of the same title by the French–Brazilian group Kaoma): a dance for couples, originating in Brazil; name is Portuguese for a strong slap or hit		Lambada
Derived from the Charleston, named after a famous aviator (originated in New York around 1928)		Lindy Hop
Named after a priestess in the Voodoo religion of Haiti		Mambo
1960s dance craze, similar to the Twist: associated with James Brown, and mentioned (along with the Twist) in Do You Love Me – a song written by Berry Gordy, which was a UK No. 1 hit for Brian Poole & the Tremeloes in 1963		Mashed Potato
Spanish dance where the man represents a bullfighter and the woman his cloak; name means 'double step'		Pasa Doble
19th century Bohemian dance: three steps and a hop, in quick time; the name is believed to be derived from a Czech word meaning 'half–step'		Polka
Slow dance in ¾ time: name is the French adjective indicating its country of origin		Polonaise
Historic name for a dance involving four couples in a square formation (precursor of the square dance)		Quadrille
Originated in the 1920s, incorporating elements of the foxtrot, the Charleston, the shah and the peabody		Quickstep
Developed in the USA during the 1920s, inspired by Cuban musical styles		Rumba
Originated in New York in the 1970s, influenced by various Latin American styles: name is Spanish for 'sauce'		Salsa
Tempos in Scottish dancing		Strathspey
		Jig
		Reel
Originated in the 1880s, in working–class areas of Buenos Aires and Montevideo (and other areas along the banks of the River Plate); began to spread internationally around 1900, despite the disapproval of many who saw it as extremely sexual and inappropriate for public display		Tango
French–born Argentinian singer and composer Carlos Gardel (Charles Gardès) is the most prominent figure in the history of
Group of folk dances that mimic a form of hysteria, once thought to be caused by the bite of a species of wolf spider which is named after a city in southern Italy, and thought to act as an antidote to the venom. Variations include the Neapolitan, Sicilian, Apulian and Calabrian		Tarantella
Originated as a folk dance in Austria and Bavaria, as long ago as the 17th century; became popular in Viennese society in the late 18th; became fashionable in Britain during the Regency period, but was considered indecent by many until at least the mid–18th due to the "closed" position of the dancers, involving actual body contact; name comes from the German word meaning to revolve		Waltz
Style of dance music originating in Louisiana, influenced by blues and West Indian music, using instruments such as accordion, saxophone, and washboard		Zydeco

People

Described by both George Balanchine and Rudolf Nureyev as "the world's greatest dancer"		Fred Astaire
US dancer, caused a sensation in Paris 1925 with a costume that included bananas and little else		Josephine Baker
Principal female dancer of Riverdance		Jean Butler
Husband–and–wife team, credited with reviving interest in dancing in the early 20th century; reached the peak of their popularity in Irving Berlin's first Broadway show, Watch Your Step (1914); also appeared in silent movies; he died in a plane crash in 1918; played in a 1939 musical biopic (based on her memoirs) by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers		Vernon & Irene Castle
Creator, choreographer, and principal male dancer, of Riverdance		Michael Flatley
Hollywood and Broadway dancer, choreographer and director; born Chicago 1927; directed the films Sweet Charity, Cabaret, All That Jazz; died in 1987		Bob Fosse
British Music Hall act (1928–62): capitalising on the fashion for Ancient Egyptian imagery following the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, they were best known for the Sand Dance and 'Cleopatra's Nightmare'		(Jack) Wilson, (Joe) Keppel & Betty (Knox)

Other

Dance troupe, formed in 1974 by Arlene Phillips (later a judge on Strictly Come Dancing): made their television debut as the "resident" dance troupe on The Kenny Everett Video Show (ITV, 1978–81); backed Sarah Brightman on her 1978 single I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper (UK No. 6)		Hot Gossip
Dance troupe, founded in Manchester in 1889 (and named after its founder); eventually there were dozens of troupes performing all around the world, including the Folies Bergeres in Paris and the London Palladium; dancers included Gretchen Franklin (Ethel Skinner in EastEnders) and Betty Boothroyd (MP 1973–2000, and Speaker of the House of Commons 1992–2000)		Tiller Girls

© Haydn Thompson 2017–24