Eighteenth-century social dance. Translated caption: A cheerful dance awakens love and feeds hope with lively joy, (Florence, 1790).

Social dance is a major category or classification of danceforms or dance styles, where sociability and socializing are the primary focuses of the dancing.^[1] Social dances can be danced with a variety of partners and still be lead and followed in a relaxed, easy atmosphere.^[2]

This compares to other major categories based on purpose:

Ceremonial dance - Competitive dance - Erotic dance - Participation dance - Performance dance

Many social dances are partner dances. In fact, quite often when spoken about social dances, ballroom or other partner dances are kept in mind. However it is natural to include in this category such groups of dances as circle dances, line dances, novelty dances, or simply club dancing in solo.

• Ballroom dance
• Club dance
• Contra dance
• Country and Western dance
• English country dance
• Folk dance (or Ethnic dance)
• Scottish country dance
• Irish and Scottish Céilidh
• Square dance
• Street dance
• Swing dance
• Tango
• Tarantella

There may be aspects of any of the above dance forms that are either competitive or performance-oriented in nature.

[edit] See also

• An American Ballroom Companion
• Boombal
• List of basic dance topics
• List of dance style categories
• List of dances

[edit] References

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