Art Central
Popular Dance Forms
People twirl, stamp, spin on their heads and dance on tiptoe! Let's discover a few surprising facts about dance.
Did you know?
Garba is a circle dance from Gujarat, danced during Navratri. In 2023, UNESCO added it to its list of treasured world traditions.
Breaking, or breakdancing, became an Olympic sport at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The dancers are called B-boys and B-girls!
Pointe shoes help ballet dancers dance on the tips of their toes. A new pair can wear out in just one show!
Try this: Step and Clap Circle
Ask your family to stand in a circle with you. Clear a safe space first. Now follow this pattern: step to the right, step to the right, then clap! Keep moving around the circle. Next, add a turn after every clap. Put on some music and go faster. Can you all keep the same beat?
Go further: Chhau, the Mask Dance
Chhau is a powerful dance from eastern India. It has three styles, named after the places they come from. Purulia Chhau is from West Bengal. Seraikela Chhau is from Jharkhand. Mayurbhanj Chhau is from Odisha. The Purulia and Seraikela styles use colourful masks. Mask-makers paste layers of paper and glue over a mould. In 2010, UNESCO added Chhau to its list of world traditions.