This Type of dance is a blend of European and African dance styles.  Jigs, Clogs, and Step dances, which are types of English and Irish dances, give tap its basic technique.  Tap dancing is a great way to exercise and stay in shape.

Ballet is easy to recognize. As soon as you see the turned out feet, hair in a bun, and fancy arms, you know that you are watching ballet.  A ballet dancer needs strength, grace, delicacy, and skill.  It takes a great deal of patience to learn ballet.

The key elements of jazz music are syncopation, individual style, and improvising.  The original jazz dancing carried these same elements.  Syncopation is what gives jazz dancing its edge and excitement.  It is not monotonous and dry.  Changes happen often and are unexpected. Jazz is a fast paced type of dance, often referred to as show or commercial dance.  Today it is used extensively in musicals.  For example on the right there is a picture of the musical "Cats".

Modern dance is compromised of highly individual movements.  It is freer and a more natural way to express dance.  Modern dancers generally dance with out shoes.  If you are just beginning modern dancing you may want to put tape on your feet until they can handle spinning by bare foot.

Lyrical dance is a combination of ballet and jazz. It utilizes all the strength and discipline of ballet and combines it with emotional drive of jazz creating a beautiful and unique art form.  Audiences will find it similar to modern dance but with no specific rules to define it.  To dance lyrically means to dance to no words in a song.  Lyrical dancing is the greatest way to express your feelings.  Lyrical dancing is done to music that is slow, beautiful, meaningful, inspiring, and uplifting.