Dance is an art form combining music and movement. The athleticism that dancers develop creates well-rounded athletes that are flexible and strong.

Dance comes in many shapes and sizes. Throughout the centuries, dance has developed and modernized and grown with the times. In the 15th century, ballet was first developed through the Italian Renaissance and technique was formed. Dance has moved from the focus of celebrations and parties to advancements in the competition and performance world.

Laying the foundation of dance, ballet has been an important part of developments in dance education. Technique was created through ballet that allowed dance to build from that point. Ballet is a dance style that I have always loved, and many variations have come out of ballet. Variations are solo performances, and the dancers wear pointe shoes while they dance. Pas de deux are also common in variations, where a female and male dancer perform together. Ballet is one of the hardest dance styles primarily because of how specific each movement is. However ballet is very entertaining, and it is very satisfying to watch.

Take a look at some famous ballet variations: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfVlQhxv-0Q

Moving to jazz, this style of dance is very fun and upbeat. Jazz is performed with energetic music, and the movements can range from flowy to hard hitting depending on the song. Many people perform jazz, and it has grown in the competition world as a strong style of dance. Jazz is one of my favorite styles of dance, and it is very fun to do.

Moving into the more contemporary and modern category, this is my favorite dance style. Contemporary focuses primarily on movement and less on tricks. I love all the unique paths that can be taken in contemporary dance. The movement-based dance styles are very favored in certain dance competitions, and it can be appreciated throughout many aspects of dance.

Looking into tap, this is a fun dance style with quick feet movements used to create multiple sounds. Tap dancing is a lot harder than it looks, and individuals that tap have to be strong enough to carry themselves through a dance. There are many different tap moves that are involved in the footwork, and it takes a lot of patience to be able to advance in tap.

Lastly, hip hop is a hard-hitting style that is popular all over the world. It is common to see in places outside of the dance studio and competition stage. Hip hop is performed by all kinds of people, and it is something that can bring people together. It requires a high endurance level and lots of energy to be able to perform to the best of their abilities.

Dance is a form of art that is appreciated all over the world. Depending on the style, dance is fun for every person that tries it. I recommend everybody to try dancing at one point in their life no matter which style it is. There is always something to respect in dance whether it is the dancers themselves or the art work that they are producing.