Traditional Dances Around the World
Dance↕ | Country / Region↕ | Type↕ | Music / Instrument↕ | Costume↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Tango | Argentina / Uruguay | Partner dance | Bandoneón, violin, piano | Slit skirts, sharp suits, high heels |
Flamenco | Spain | Solo / group expressive | Guitar, cajón, clapping (palmas) | Ruffled bata de cola dress, castanets |
Bharatanatyam | India (Tamil Nadu) | Classical solo | Carnatic music, mridangam, veena | Silk sari with pleated fan, temple jewelry |
Samba | Brazil | Solo / group carnival | Surdo, tamborim, pandeiro | Feathered sequined carnival costume |
Haka | New Zealand (Māori) | Group war dance | Chanting and body percussion | Piupiu (flax skirt), tā moko face tattoo |
Irish Step Dance | Ireland | Solo / group competitive | Fiddle, tin whistle, bodhrán | Embroidered solo dress with cape, hard shoes |
Kabuki Dance | Japan | Theatrical narrative | Shamisen, drums, flute | Elaborate kimono, white face makeup, wigs |
Ballet | France / Italy / Russia | Classical staged | Orchestra (Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev) | Tutu, pointe shoes, leotard |
Capoeira | Brazil | Martial art dance | Berimbau, atabaque, pandeiro | White trousers and T-shirt (abadá) |
Kathak | India (North) | Classical narrative | Tabla, sitar, sarangi | Anarkali suit or lehenga with ghungroo ankle bells |
Belly Dance (Raqs Sharqi) | Egypt / Middle East | Solo expressive | Oud, darbuka, qanun | Bedlah (beaded bra and belt), flowing skirt |
Waltz | Austria / Germany | Ballroom partner | Orchestra (Strauss waltzes) | Ball gowns, tailcoats |
Lion Dance | China | Ceremonial duo | Drums, cymbals, gongs | Two-person lion head and body costume |
Salsa | Cuba / Puerto Rico | Partner dance | Congas, timbales, trumpet, piano | Form-fitting dresses, dress shirts |
Dabke | Lebanon / Palestine / Syria | Group line dance | Mijwiz, tablah, buzuq | Traditional thobe or sherwal, keffiyeh |
Cossack Dance (Hopak) | Ukraine | Group acrobatic | Bandura, sopilka, accordion | Sharavary trousers, embroidered shirt (vyshyvanka) |
Sufi Whirling (Sema) | Turkey | Spiritual solo | Ney flute, kudüm drum | White flowing tennure robe, tall sikke hat |
Morris Dance | England | Group folk | Accordion, fiddle, pipe and tabor | White clothing, bells on shins, ribbons |
Rumba | Cuba | Partner / solo | Congas, claves, cajón | Colorful casual clothing, ruffled skirts |
Schuhplattler | Bavaria (Germany) / Austria | Group folk | Accordion, zither | Lederhosen, dirndl, alpine hats |
Kathakali | India (Kerala) | Classical dance-drama | Chenda drums, ilathalam cymbals | Elaborate face paint, layered skirts, huge headdress |
Fan Dance (Buchaechum) | South Korea | Group court | Gayageum, janggu drum | Hanbok with large flower-painted fans |
Jarabe Tapatío | Mexico | Courtship duo | Mariachi (trumpet, violin, guitar) | China poblana dress, charro suit, sombrero |
Poi Dance | New Zealand (Māori) | Solo / group | Waiata (song) and chanting | Piupiu skirt, poi balls on strings |
Highland Fling | Scotland | Solo competitive | Bagpipes, snare drum | Kilt, ghillie brogues, velvet jacket |
Cumbia | Colombia | Group / partner | Gaita flute, drums, maracas | White pollera dress with candles, white clothing |
Odissi | India (Odisha) | Classical solo | Mardala drum, sitar, flute | Silk sari with silver filigree jewelry |
Polka | Czech Republic / Bohemia | Partner ballroom | Accordion, brass band | Full skirts, vests, folk embroidery |
Kecak | Indonesia (Bali) | Group chant-dance | Male vocal choir chanting "cak" | Checked sarong (poleng), bare-chested |
Adumu (Jumping Dance) | Kenya / Tanzania (Maasai) | Group competitive | A cappella call-and-response chanting | Red shúkà cloth, beaded jewelry, ochre body paint |
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This dataset contains 30 entries, each with multiple sortable, filterable columns. The full table is visible on this page and can be downloaded as a CSV, JSON, or Excel file.
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