“The dance can reveal everything mysterious that is hidden in music, and it has the additional merit of being human and palpable. Dancing is poetry with arms and legs.”
— Charles Baudelaire
Do you remember the first dance you were introduced to as a child? Whether it’s a classic Nutcracker ballet performance at the theatre or a traditional dance by the Indigenous Canadian community, each reflects the nation’s dedication and appreciation towards the art of movement and music.
That said, the dancing scene in Canada is a multi-faceted integration between local traditions, the introduction of dances from other cultures and countries, and the blending of various dance genres over time.
In this article, we will explore some of the most popular dances in Canada.
| Dance Styles/Genres | Name of Dance |
|---|---|
| Aboriginal/Traditional Dance | Powwow |
| Aboriginal/Traditional Dance | Metis Jigging |
| Folk Dance | Square Dance |
| Dance Sport | Ballroom Dancing |
| Classical Dance | Ballet |
| Contemporary Dance | Contemporary Dance |
| Street Dance | Street Dance |
1. Traditional Dance & Folk Dance
First, let’s talk about these cornerstones of Canadian aboriginal dance forms that have stood the test of time.
Powwow Dance
In a dance that centres around a spiritual centre (known as the Circle), Powwow dancers come together and move in the direction of the sun.
There are many regional variations of the dance depending on the various ethnic groups and locations. But they all share one commonality - the dance moves are derived from nature and animals.
Metis Jigging
A representative dance of the Metis community, the dance is a blend of European and First Nation culture featuring a bit of French-Canadian step dancing and leaping moves.
One of the most popular jig dances is the Red River Jig which originated in the Red River Valley, a part of Manitoba.
It is often performed with lively fiddle music during social gatherings among the Metis community, where dancers jiggle on their feet while maintaining a straight upper body.
Square Dance
Square dancing is undeniably one of the popular folk dances in Canada, having strong influences on the communal history of European settlers in the country. It is performed in a group of eight dancers (4 couples on each side) while forming a square together.
What sets square dance apart is the presence of a caller who cues the dancers' moves. Thanks to the promotion of non-profit organizations like the Canadian Square and Round Dance Society, it is a traditional dance enjoyed by Canadians of all ages.
Over the years, the square dance has slowly found its way to contemporary music adaptation, too.
2. Dance Sport
We can’t talk about the significance of dance sport in Canada without mentioning ballroom dancing.
Ballroom dancing is a popular social recreational activity, where dancers pair up to take lessons and dance the night away at parties.
Additionally, it is also a dynamic competitive discipline governed by the Canadian Dance Sport Federation (CDSF). One example is the Canadian Closed Championships, where performers are judged on their choreographed routines.
It is mainly divided into two key categories: Standard and Latin.
Standard
- Waltz
- Tango
- Foxtrot
- Viennese Waltz
- Quickstep
Latin
- Rumba
- Cha Cha
- Samba
- Paso Doble
- Jive
Be inspired by the key achievements of prominent Canadian dancers like Alain Doucet and Anik Jolicoeur who have been multiple national champions in both the Standard and Latin dance sport championship categories.
3. Classical Dance
Next, let’s delve into another dance that has a prominent presence in the history of dancing in Canada.
Ballet
With the establishment of premier ballet institutions like the National Ballet of Canada, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, and Canada’s National Ballet School, it’s easy to see the popularity of this classical and graceful European dance in the country.
Some of the most famous Canadian ballet dancers include Karen Kain and Evan McKie who were principal dancers in the National Ballet of Canada.
Ballet has strong historical and artistic roots in Italy and France where it allows the performers to express themselves through intricate choreography, and in-depth emotions through their movements on stage.
It is a multi-dimensional dance with a high precision of techniques and discipline, especially when it comes to coordination, alignment, strength, and balance.
Whether you plan to learn ballet as a hobby or pursue it as a full-time career, there are numerous options to explore from beginner classes for kids to professional training in Canada.
At Superprof, you can find an experienced dancing tutor of any genre, including a ballet private tutor to kickstart your ballet learning journey.
All you need to do is indicate what you want to learn (ballet) and your current location and review the adverts of different ballet tutors who fit the bill.
Through their adverts, you can discover their prior teaching experience, qualifications, teaching specialization, online reviews, and hourly rates.
Once you have set a few ads aside, you can contact them directly via the messaging feature to discuss your first lesson.
4. Contemporary Dance
The Canadian modern dance movement was shaped by a focus on reduced technicality, with a stronger emphasis on independent and abstract expression, in contrast to the structured practices of classical ballet during the mid-20th century.
Influenced by the American modern dance culture, Canadian modern dance is often seen as a platform to address various social and cultural themes in the local society such as love, identity, mental health, grief, and inequality.
Like classical ballet, there were also establishments of modern dance learning companies across the country such as the Toronto Dance Theatre (TDT), and Winnipeg's Contemporary Dancers in Manitoba.
Founded in 1964, it is the oldest-running modern dance company in Canada. It was founded by Rachel Browne, a former ballerina who became a key choreographer in contemporary dance techniques.
With support from organizations like the Canada Council for the Arts, the modern dance scene has continuously gained popularity among the younger generation due to innovative integration with other dance genres like jazz, and ballet, its an emphasis on raw emotional intensity and poetic movements.
Besides playing a significant role in shaping the dancing landscape of the country, Canadian modern dance has also gained a strong global presence with established choreographers like Margie Gillis and Jean-Pierre Perreault leading the way.
In fact, Margie Gills is widely recognized as the first Western dancer to introduce modern dance to China during the late 70s.
5. Street /Urban Dance
If you have watched the recent finale of Canada’s Got Talent, you would have known of Funkanometry, a hip-hop and popping duo from Vancouver who won the second prize in the talent show.
The duo of Carlow Rush, and Jackson Fryer, wowed the audience and judges with their eccentric choreography mashups featuring groovy dance songs.
A central theme of hip-hop is undeniably freestyle, which translates into movements of spontaneity, improvisation and individuality.
Several images come to mind when we talk about street dancing — funky music with catchy beats, laidback attires, and of course, street dance battles.
Perhaps that's the reason why we get all hyped out watching hip-hop-themed movies like Save the Last Dance and Step Up.
If you are interested in taking hip-hop classes, here are some dance studios that you can check out, depending on your location:
- Run The Flex Dance Studio (Toronto)
- The Flava Factory (Ottawa)
- Urban Element Zone (Montreal)
- Studio X Dance (Mississauga)
- Harbour Dance Centre (Vancouver)
We hope this article has offered you some great insights into the different popular dances in Canada. Over the years, these dances have enriched the dancing community and pushed for new boundaries of art expressions, movement, and music in the country.
Remember, it's never too late to put on your dancing shoes and explore a new dancing style.
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