Dance Style Resource

Check here for brief overviews and definitions of everything from acro to zumba!

Lindy Hop/Swing Dance

Lindy Hop originated in Harlem in the 1920s, thanks to the influence of the jazz era. It gained popularity quickly due to its vibrant energy. The Lindy Hop is one branch of ‘swing dancing’, and it, like other styles, integrated elements from several earlier social dances, like the Charleston, Breakaway and others.

Limón Technique

José Limón (1908-1972) was a modern dancer and choreographer who began his artistic career as a visual artist. While Limón is known as one of the most prolific modern choreographers in the mid twentieth century, he started teaching and developing his technical principles at the beginning of his career. He studied in Doris Humphrey’s school, and adapted some of the basic principles from the Humphrey technique. The basis of his method is the principle of fall, recovery and suspension. Some of Limón’s technical additions included a focus on the isolation of specific muscle groups and weight control within the various body parts.
In 1951 Limón became faculty member at then new-founded Dance Department of the Julliard School, where he continued to teach throughout his life.
Source: International Encyclopedia of Dance. (1998) Selma
Jeanne Cohen (ed.). Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press

Lyrical Dance

A recent invention called Lyrical Dance is based on the fusion of modern dance and jazz with some elements of ballet. As an interpretive and emotional dance, lyrical is not a style that has set requirements in terms of the mastery of particular codified movements or technical elements. The dancer’s expressivity and musicality are key.

Latin

Line Dancing