How many dancers are there in the us

Number Of Dancers In The US

Research Summary. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for dancers in the United States. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. After extensive research and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:

There are over 7,348 dancers currently employed in the United States.
73.4% of all dancers are women, while 26.6% are men.
The average age of an employed dancer is 28 years old.
The most common ethnicity of dancers is White (49.8%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (24.2%), Black or African American (12.5%) and Asian (7.3%).
In 2021, women earned 99% of what men earned.
22% of all dancers are LGBT.
Dancers are 55% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies.

Dancer Statistics By Gender

73. 4% of dancers are women and 26.6% of dancers are men.

Female, 73.4%
Male, 26.6%

Dancers By Gender

Gender	Percentages
Female	73.4%
Male	26.6%

Gender Pay Gap For Dancer

Women Earn 99¢ For Every $1 Earned By Men

Male Income

$70,820

Female Income

$69,835

Dancer Gender Over Time

This data shows how men and women predominate in the dancer position over time.

Female

Dancer Gender By Year

Year	Male	Female
2010	16.79%	83.21%
2011	14.08%	85.92%
2012	20.39%	79.61%
2013	12.23%	87.77%
2014	14.62%	85.38%
2015	12. 42%	87.58%
2016	20.48%	79.52%
2017	19.89%	80.11%
2018	19.33%	80.67%
2019	29.47%	70.53%

Dancer Male to Female Ratio

We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, 19d cavalry scout and baseball player have the biggest difference in gender.

Job Title	Male	Female
Harpist	8%	92%
Actress	8%	92%
Modern Dancer	8%	92%
Dancer	27%	73%
Assistant Varsity Football Coach	98%	2%
Baseball Player	98%	2%
19D Cavalry Scout	99%	1%

19D Cavalry Scout

Baseball Player

Assistant Varsity Football Coach

Dancer

Modern Dancer

Actress

Harpist

Dancer Statistics By Race

The most common ethnicity among dancers is White, which makes up 49. 8% of all dancers. Comparatively, there are 24.2% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 12.5% of the Black or African American ethnicity.

White, 49.8%
Hispanic or Latino, 24.2%
Black or African American, 12.5%
Asian, 7.3%
Unknown, 5.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%

Dancer Race

Dancer Race	Percentages
White	49.8%
Hispanic or Latino	24.2%
Black or African American	12.5%
Asian	7.3%
Unknown	5.5%
American Indian and Alaska Native	0.7%

Dancer Race And Ethnicity Over Time

Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among dancers.

White
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
Black or African American

Dancer Race By Year

Year	White	Black or African American	Asian	Hispanic or Latino
2010	58. 55%	10.23%	8.30%	16.50%
2011	55.99%	8.26%	6.35%	22.60%
2012	51.52%	17.82%	6.85%	17.80%
2013	60.25%	8.22%	6.11%	18.02%
2014	58.97%	14.82%	4.50%	16.73%
2015	65.83%	4.27%	5.50%	15.85%
2016	48.55%	14.24%	7.72%	20.47%
2017	54.54%	6.81%	5.57%	22.25%
2018	56.76%	7.50%	9.35%	20.53%
2019	49.79%	12.54%	7.32%	24.18%

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Dancer Age Breakdown

This chart breaks down the ages of dancer employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of dancers is 20-30 years old, which represents 61% of the population.

40+ years

30-40 years

20-30 years

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Dancer Age

Dancer Years	Percentages
40+ years	7%
30-40 years	31%
20-30 years	61%

Types of Dancer Degree Levels

The most common degree for dancers is bachelor's degree 70% of dancers earn that degree. A close second is high school diploma with 13% and rounding it off is associate degree with 9%.

Bachelors, 70%
High School Diploma, 13%
Associate, 9%
Masters, 4%
Other Degrees, 4%

Dancers By Education

Dancer Degree	Percentages
Bachelors	70%
High School Diploma	13%
Associate	9%
Masters	4%
Other Degrees	4%

Dancer Jobs You Might Like

Dancer Employment Statistics

This section highlights information about where dancers work. We found most dancers work for a private company. In addition, the industry that employs the most dancers is the media industry.

Company Size

We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire dancers.

< 50 employees

50 - 100 employees

100 - 500 employees

500 - 1,000 employees

1,000 - 10,000 employees

> 10,000

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Dancer Jobs By Employer Size

Company Size	Percentages
< 50 employees	9%
50 - 100 employees	9%
100 - 500 employees	14%
500 - 1,000 employees	8%
1,000 - 10,000 employees	42%
> 10,000 employees	17%

The Types Of Companies Dancer Work In

Employees with the dancer job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most dancers prefer to work at private companies over public companies.

Education

Public

Private

Government

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Dancer Jobs By Sector

Company Type	Percentages
Education	8%
Public	33%
Private	55%
Government	4%

Top Industries Hiring Dancers

Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ dancers. Those industries include media, education and retail.

Hospitality

Media

Retail

Technology

Education

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Dancer Industry Statistics

Industry	Percentages
Hospitality	23%
Media	16%
Retail	10%
Technology	10%
Education	8%
Fortune 500	7%
Government	3%
Construction	3%
Professional	3%
Automotive	3%
Transportation	2%
Telecommunication	2%
Internet	2%
Utilities	2%
Real Estate	2%
Health Care	2%
Finance	2%
Agriculture	2%

Dancer Turnover And Employment Statistics

Dancer Unemployment Rate Over Time

The Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of dancers changed.

Unemployment rate

Dancer Unemployment Rate By Year

Year	Dancer Unemployment Rate
2010	18.65%
2011	20.48%
2012	18.60%
2013	19.67%
2014	16.28%
2015	11.17%
2016	11.39%
2017	5.91%
2018	14.52%
2019	5.66%

The Average Number of Years That Dancer Stay in a Job

By looking over 4,746 dancers resumes, we figured out that the average dancer enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 30%.

Less than one year

1-2 years

3-4 years

5-7 years

8-10 years

11+ years

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Dancer Tenure

Number or Years	Percentages
Less than 1 year	24%
1-2 years	30%
3-4 years	15%
5-7 years	15%
8-10 years	6%
11+ years	10%

Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Dancers with Other Job Titles

After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to dancers.

Job Title	LGBT	Job Openings
Diving Coach	9.28%	14,454
Baton Twirler	11.39%	12200.00%
Jockey	14.59%	2,211
Field Producer	16.02%	54,756
Orchestra Leader	21.16%	30,861
Dancer	21.84%
Voice-Over Artist	23.07%	3,807

Voice-Over Artist

Dancer

Orchestra Leader

Field Producer

Jockey

Baton Twirler

Diving Coach

12%

17%

23%

29%

35%

Dancer LGBT Demographics

Profession	Percentages of LGBT	Job Openings
Diving Coach	9. 28%	14,454
Baton Twirler	11.39%	122
Jockey	14.59%	2,211
Field Producer	16.02%	54,756
Orchestra Leader	21.16%	30,861
Voice-Over Artist	23.07%	3,807

Foreign Languages Spoken By Dancers

The most common foreign language among dancers is Spanish at 45.7%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 16.2% and German is the third-most popular at 4.5%.

Spanish, 45.7%
French, 16.2%
German, 4.5%
Chinese, 3.8%
Italian, 3.8%
Other, 26.0%

Dancer Languages Spoken

Foreign Language	Percentages
Spanish	45.7%
French	16.2%
German	4.5%
Chinese	3.8%
Italian	3. 8%
Other	26.0%

Dancer Heatmaps

Which State Has The Most Dancers?

By looking through more than 4,746 resumes, we found that the most popular places for dancers are New York, NY and Chicago, IL.

Number of Dancers

Number Of Dancer Jobs By State

Rank	State	Number of Jobs	Average Salary
1	Tennessee	7	$42,313
2	Florida	1	$43,629
3	Alaska	0	$83,841
4	New York	0	$74,444
5	Connecticut	0	$73,218
6	New Hampshire	0	$69,573
7	Massachusetts	0	$71,284
8	Maryland	0	$69,773
9	Vermont	0	$66,203
10	Rhode Island	0	$64,511
11	West Virginia	0	$61,983
12	Ohio	0	$62,303
13	Delaware	0	$63,767
14	Pennsylvania	0	$60,240
15	Kentucky	0	$54,258
16	Michigan	0	$54,182
17	Louisiana	0	$54,861
18	New Jersey	0	$58,779
19	California	0	$59,950
20	Nevada	0	$55,241
21	Maine	0	$53,950
22	District of Columbia	0	$61,186
23	North Dakota	0	$51,923
24	South Carolina	0	$52,515
25	Virginia	0	$54,791
26	Mississippi	0	$51,130
27	Arizona	0	$52,025
28	South Dakota	0	$48,420
29	Wisconsin	0	$49,346
30	Missouri	0	$49,337
31	Hawaii	0	$54,432
32	Nebraska	0	$47,619
33	North Carolina	0	$47,703
34	Indiana	0	$47,439
35	New Mexico	0	$47,786
36	Utah	0	$47,570
37	Texas	0	$47,369
38	Minnesota	0	$46,229
39	Montana	0	$45,814
40	Illinois	0	$45,684
41	Colorado	0	$46,189
42	Alabama	0	$42,040
43	Arkansas	0	$40,997
44	Georgia	0	$42,298
45	Oklahoma	0	$40,964
46	Iowa	0	$41,164
47	Oregon	0	$41,754
48	Idaho	0	$38,984
49	Washington	0	$40,198
50	Kansas	0	$38,249
51	Wyoming	0	$37,524

Dancer Demographics FAQs

How Many Dancer Are There In The Us?

There are over 2,919 Dancers in the United States.

What Percentage Of Dancers Are Black?

12.5% of Dancers are Black or African American

What Race Are Most Dancers?

Most a are White, with 49.8% of Dancers belonging to this ethnicity. 24.2% of Dancers are Hispanic or Latino, 12.5% of Dancers are Black or African American, 7.3% of Dancers are Asian, 5.5% of Dancers are Unknown, and 0.7% of Dancers are American Indian and Alaska Native

Are Dancer Jobs Male - Dominated ?

No, Dancer jobs are not male - dominated. 73% of Dancers are female, and 26% are male, so there are more female Dancers than male Dancers in the United States.

How Old Is The Average Dancer ?

The average Dancer is 29 years old. 7% of Dancers are 40+ years old or older, 31% are between the ages of 30-40 years, and 61% are between 20-30 years old

Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.

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Number Of Ballet Dancers In The US

Ballet Dancer Statistics By Gender

77. 8% of ballet dancers are women and 22.2% of ballet dancers are men.

Female, 77.8%
Male, 22.2%

Ballet Dancers By Gender

Gender	Percentages
Female	77.8%
Male	22.2%

Gender Pay Gap For Ballet Dancer

Women Earn 99¢ For Every $1 Earned By Men

Male Income

$70,080

Female Income

$69,122

Ballet Dancer Gender Over Time

This data shows how men and women predominate in the ballet dancer position over time.

Female

Ballet Dancer Gender By Year

Year	Male	Female
2010	12.80%	87.20%
2011	10.66%	89.34%
2012	15.71%	84.29%
2013	9.21%	90.79%
2014	11. 08%	88.92%
2015	9.36%	90.64%
2016	15.78%	84.22%
2017	15.30%	84.70%
2018	14.84%	85.16%
2019	23.31%	76.69%

Ballet Dancer Male to Female Ratio

We compared this job title with other job titles to see how gender percentages varied. As you can see, 19d cavalry scout and baseball player have the biggest difference in gender.

Job Title	Male	Female
Harpist	8%	92%
Actress	8%	92%
Modern Dancer	8%	92%
Ballet Dancer	22%	78%
Assistant Varsity Football Coach	98%	2%
Baseball Player	98%	2%
19D Cavalry Scout	99%	1%

19D Cavalry Scout

Baseball Player

Assistant Varsity Football Coach

Ballet Dancer

Modern Dancer

Actress

Harpist

Ballet Dancer Statistics By Race

The most common ethnicity among ballet dancers is White, which makes up 50. 6% of all ballet dancers. Comparatively, there are 26.9% of the Hispanic or Latino ethnicity and 10.0% of the Black or African American ethnicity.

White, 50.6%
Hispanic or Latino, 26.9%
Black or African American, 10.0%
Asian, 6.4%
Unknown, 5.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%

Ballet Dancer Race

Ballet Dancer Race	Percentages
White	50.6%
Hispanic or Latino	26.9%
Black or African American	10.0%
Asian	6.4%
Unknown	5.4%
American Indian and Alaska Native	0.7%

Ballet Dancer Race And Ethnicity Over Time

Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among ballet dancers.

White
Asian
Hispanic or Latino
Black or African American

Ballet Dancer Race By Year

Year	White	Black or African American	Asian	Hispanic or Latino
2010	59. 40%	7.69%	7.43%	19.18%
2011	56.85%	5.71%	5.48%	25.28%
2012	52.38%	15.27%	5.98%	20.47%
2013	61.11%	5.67%	5.24%	20.70%
2014	59.82%	12.28%	3.63%	19.41%
2015	66.69%	1.73%	4.63%	18.53%
2016	49.41%	11.69%	6.85%	23.14%
2017	55.40%	4.27%	4.70%	24.93%
2018	57.61%	4.96%	8.48%	23.21%
2019	50.64%	10.00%	6.44%	26.86%

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Ballet Dancer Age Breakdown

This chart breaks down the ages of ballet dancer employees. Interestingly enough, the average age of ballet dancers is 20-30 years old, which represents 61% of the population.

40+ years

30-40 years

20-30 years

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Ballet Dancer Age

Ballet Dancer Years	Percentages
40+ years	7%
30-40 years	31%
20-30 years	61%

Types of Ballet Dancer Degree Levels

The most common degree for ballet dancers is bachelor's degree 71% of ballet dancers earn that degree. A close second is high school diploma with 13% and rounding it off is associate degree with 8%.

Bachelors, 71%
High School Diploma, 13%
Associate, 8%
Diploma, 5%
Other Degrees, 3%

Ballet Dancers By Education

Ballet Dancer Degree	Percentages
Bachelors	71%
High School Diploma	13%
Associate	8%
Diploma	5%
Other Degrees	3%

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Ballet Dancer Employment Statistics

Company Size

We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire ballet dancers.

< 50 employees

50 - 100 employees

100 - 500 employees

500 - 1,000 employees

1,000 - 10,000 employees

> 10,000

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Ballet Dancer Jobs By Employer Size

Company Size	Percentages
< 50 employees	9%
50 - 100 employees	9%
100 - 500 employees	36%
500 - 1,000 employees	9%
1,000 - 10,000 employees	18%
> 10,000 employees	18%

Top Industries Hiring Ballet Dancers

Media

Retail

Education

Transportation

Non Profits

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Ballet Dancer Industry Statistics

Industry	Percentages
Media	24%
Retail	14%
Education	10%
Transportation	10%
Non Profits	10%
Finance	5%
Government	5%
Manufacturing	5%
Health Care	5%
Professional	5%
Hospitality	5%
Technology	5%

Ballet Dancer Turnover And Employment Statistics

Ballet Dancer Unemployment Rate Over Time

The Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. Between 2008 and 2018, this is how the number of ballet dancers changed.

Unemployment rate

Ballet Dancer Unemployment Rate By Year

Year	Ballet Dancer Unemployment Rate
2010	18.65%
2011	20.48%
2012	18.60%
2013	19.67%
2014	16.28%
2015	11.17%
2016	11.39%
2017	5.91%
2018	14.52%
2019	5.66%

The Average Number of Years That Ballet Dancer Stay in a Job

By looking over 232 ballet dancers resumes, we figured out that the average ballet dancer enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 33%.

Less than one year

1-2 years

3-4 years

5-7 years

8-10 years

11+ years

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Ballet Dancer Tenure

Number or Years	Percentages
Less than 1 year	10%
1-2 years	33%
3-4 years	19%
5-7 years	20%
8-10 years	4%
11+ years	14%

Comparing The LGBT Ratio of Ballet Dancers with Other Job Titles

After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to ballet dancers.

Job Title	LGBT	Job Openings
Broom Person	9.28%	30,471
Hypnotist	11.39%	200.00%
Stock Car Driver	14.59%	29,251
Creative Producer	16.02%	12,415
Music Critic	21.16%	2,595
Ballet Dancer	21.84%
Ensemble Director	23.07%	4,732

Ensemble Director

Ballet Dancer

Music Critic

Creative Producer

Stock Car Driver

Hypnotist

Broom Person

12%

17%

23%

29%

35%

Ballet Dancer LGBT Demographics

Profession	Percentages of LGBT	Job Openings
Broom Person	9. 28%	30,471
Hypnotist	11.39%	2
Stock Car Driver	14.59%	29,251
Creative Producer	16.02%	12,415
Music Critic	21.16%	2,595
Ensemble Director	23.07%	4,732

Foreign Languages Spoken By Ballet Dancers

The most common foreign language among ballet dancers is Spanish at 50.0%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 27.8% and German is the third-most popular at 5.6%.

Spanish, 50.0%
French, 27.8%
German, 5.6%
Japanese, 5.6%
Greek, 5.6%
Other, 5.4%

Ballet Dancer Languages Spoken

Foreign Language	Percentages
Spanish	50.0%
French	27.8%
German	5.6%
Japanese	5. 6%
Greek	5.6%
Other	5.4%

Ballet Dancer Heatmaps

Where Do Ballet Dancers Earn The Most?

Ballet dancers earn the most in Alaska, where the average ballet dancer salary is $76,179. The map here shows where ballet dancers earn the highest salaries in the U.S. The darker areas across the 50 states highlight the highest salaries.

Average Salary

Ballet Dancer Demographics FAQs

How Many Ballet Dancer Are There In The Us?

There are over 142 Ballet Dancers in the United States.

What Percentage Of Ballet Dancers Are Black?

10.0% of Ballet Dancers are Black or African American

What Race Are Most Ballet Dancers?

Most a are White, with 50.6% of Ballet Dancers belonging to this ethnicity. 26.9% of Ballet Dancers are Hispanic or Latino, 10.0% of Ballet Dancers are Black or African American, 6.4% of Ballet Dancers are Asian, 5.4% of Ballet Dancers are Unknown, and 0. 7% of Ballet Dancers are American Indian and Alaska Native

Are Ballet Dancer Jobs Male - Dominated ?

No, Ballet Dancer jobs are not male - dominated. 77% of Ballet Dancers are female, and 22% are male, so there are more female Ballet Dancers than male Ballet Dancers in the United States.

How Old Is The Average Ballet Dancer ?

The average Ballet Dancer is 29 years old. 7% of Ballet Dancers are 40+ years old or older, 31% are between the ages of 30-40 years, and 61% are between 20-30 years old

Have more questions? See all answers to common arts, entertainment, sports, and media questions.

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What scientists know about dance

On April 29, people around the world celebrate International Dance Day. About what type of dance is best for retirees, why flamenco will not help much with weight loss, and whether dancers need painkillers, says the science department of Gazeta.Ru.

Many people see dancing as more than just a hobby or a professional sport. Often we start dancing to get in good physical shape, without resorting to visiting a sports club and exhausting walking on a treadmill. Numerous scientific studies show that dancing really has a positive effect on the physical and psychological state of a person.

First of all, dancing has an extremely positive impact on health, regardless of gender and age. Physiologists from the University of Illinois at Chicago conducted experiment , during which 54 elderly participants practiced Latin American dances twice a week for four months.

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Prior to testing, scientists measured the time it took subjects to walk a 400-meter distance. Before the experiment, the participants were not very physically active, and as part of the dance program, they had to attend classes in salsa, cha-cha-cha, bachata and merengue.

The study found that the participants took 10% less time to walk the 400-meter walk than before the experiment, and their overall physical activity increased, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes.

In the future, the researchers want to check, using MRI, how positively dancing has an effect on human brain activity.

A similar study, published in the European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, was carried out by scientists from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. It turned out that Greek dance (for example, sirtaki) helps older people with heart failure become more physically resilient. Zacharia Vordos, one of the authors of the paper, suggested that such "dance therapy" could attract more patients than traditional treatment programs.

Scientists also claim that partner dancing can have an effect on a person similar to that of an anesthetic. In the journal Biology Letters , a study was published in which biologists measured the amount of endorphins formed in the blood of people after dancing. They found out,

the more difficult the dance movements were and the more synchronization of actions the dance required, the more “hormones of joy” were in the blood of the participants.

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Researchers attribute this to the fact that in addition to the pleasure of a correctly performed dance element, people feel a social connection, which, in turn, also affects the concentration of endorphins.

It is obvious that dance is different and many people who are eager to practice this sport are faced with the choice of their style. American scientists agreed on that hip-hop is the healthiest dance. The fact is that dance classes do not always involve active physical activity. Using accelerometers (portable electronic counters of the number of movements), scientists measured the physical activity of 264 girls aged 5 to 11 years old, involved in 66 different dance classes. A study published in the journal Pediatrics found that children spend an average of 17 minutes of active exercise and spend the rest of the activity, which usually lasts about an hour, listening to music and doing quiet exercises or stretching.

Flamenco turned out to be the most “inactive” of the seven types of dances studied: the children involved in it moved only 14% of the time. In hip-hop classes, the children devoted about 57% of the time to increased physical activity.

Today there are a huge variety of dance styles, some of which are known to relatively small groups of people. For example, in South Korea there is a musical genre called K-pop, which has absorbed elements of Western electropop, hip-hop, dance music and modern rhythm and blues. Thanks to the Internet, Korean pop culture has spread to parts of Southeast Asia, and an entire dance genre, K-pop, has been born. Korean engineers from Pohang University of Science and Technology developed the virtual K-pop dance teacher, which allows you to track the movements of the 15 joints of the human body, making it easier to learn dance at home.

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Deijin Kim and colleagues presented the development at the IEEE International Conference on Image Processing (ICIP) in 2015. To create the "trainer", the team took 100 K-pop moves performed by a professional dancer and recorded the changes in the position of his joints. Then, using 3D tracking technology, they checked how similar the movements of an aspiring dancer and a professional choreographer are.

Another type of dance, previously unknown to almost anyone, but which has made a lot of noise over the past few years, is twerk. By the way, the word itself is not something new - linguists found in the 1820 edition of the Oxford Dictionary the word twirk , denoting twitching movements. The verbal form of the word was found in the dictionary of 1848, and in the current form ( twerk ) the word appeared in 1901.

The dance itself is an active movement of the hips, buttocks, abdomen and arms, and the word "twerking", denoting a dance direction, appeared in the dictionary in 2013.

Fiona MacPherson, Senior Editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, commented: “We were convinced that the word twerk came from twist and jerk . However, the presence of earlier origins in the name of the dance surprised us.”

Even more surprising is the fact that the concept of "twerking" occurs in nature. Arachnologists at Simon Fraser University in Canada have discovered that male black widow spiders, one of the most dangerous spiders on the planet to humans, oscillate their abdomens to prevent the female from eating them. Such movements cause the vibration of the female's web. “Spiders take a few steps, then shake their belly. Then they take a few steps again and repeat their movements, ”explained Samantha Wiebert, study author, published by in Frontiers in Zoology. The nature of the oscillations in this case differs significantly from the convulsive movements of the victim.

I want to dance. 10 misconceptions about dancing

The desire to learn how to dance is natural and natural in the modern world. You can list the reasons, starting with obvious and popular pragmatic desires, for example, to start moving or losing weight, ending with unconscious and even existential ones.

This is due to the fact that dancing is at the subtle intersection of the inner and outer worlds, physical and spiritual. Above this, music becomes a driver that cannot leave anyone indifferent.

In dancing there is magic inside a person, which is not always noticeable when viewed from the side. At the initial stage, it is the external picture that attracts to dances, and sometimes repels, as it seems too frivolous and superficial.

But there are even stronger obstacles that stop many people from starting dancing. These illusions and delusions roam the minds of the majority, and are often afraid to ask about them directly, or they ask the question about it so often that they are no longer ready to hear an honest direct answer. I will try to do it in this article.

There are many examples of contemporary dance instructors sharing their thoughts about not expecting to be in the dance industry. Once upon a time there was a man and was engaged in adult, serious business. Sometimes even very serious. A person could have children and even grandchildren. I saw dances only on stage or on TV. For reasons unknown to himself, he ended up in dances. At first, everything seemed like entertainment and a useful pastime. But time has passed, and a person catches himself thinking that he thinks about dancing not just every day, but really all the time. A couple of years pass, and he already becomes a teacher or organizer of some event.

A similar path can start at 15 or 55 years old. The only difference will be in the self-perception of the starting stage, that it’s too late to dance. In fact, for each age there is its own dance direction, which can reveal it to the greatest extent at this stage. Hip-hop or breaking is closer to children and teenagers, and Argentine tango is closer to adults. It's never too late to start dancing. You need to make the right choice of dance style based on several parameters: age, gender, music, goal. There is a dance direction for any arrangement.

Misconception 2: men don't dance

Our culture has a number of restrictions related to dancing. Most of these causes are psychological and lie outside the realm of rational reasoning.

First, in our culture, in principle, dancing for pleasure or self-expression appeared relatively recently. 20-30 years ago dance clubs were only for children. To start dancing even in adolescence was considered exotic.

Secondly, the aesthetics of the body in our country for men is not in the focus of attention. In general, this can be attributed to the fact that Russian men try hard not to draw attention to their appearance and clothing. Men in our country use other tools for this.

Third, dancing is associated with entertainment and alcohol. If a man feels serious and respectable, then he either does not have time or desire for this.

Nowadays the general cultural background has changed and the result is that men are learning to dance. It becomes as much a sign of masculinity as clothing, hair or beard.

Unfortunately, many misconceptions remain even among those who have already started dancing. Dance teachers do not always pay attention to this, as it seems to them that this is a matter of course.

Fallacy 3: special training is needed

For an outside observer, there is always a cognitive dissonance about what dance is. What he sees on the big stage in the form of a show with sweeping movements and splits is obviously dancing. Breakers doing unimaginable elements in the air and on their hands, competing with each other, also seem to be dancing. Pensioners in the park waltz. Dancing again, but for some reason everyone is so different. How to understand that this is a dance, and what physical criteria should be in the body.

In fact, any self-expression through the body to music can be attributed to dance. There are a number of reservations, but they are not essential. For self-expression, a person uses the set of plastics that he has. Subtlety and technique do not depend on extreme ways of self-expression, and it often happens that splits and somersaults interfere with a meaningful dance. The development of plasticity and the expansion of the body's capabilities are part of the preparation of a dancer, but not an end in itself.

Misconception 4: You must learn to dance in pairs

In couple dancing, the final learning outcome is that the couple dances at a party. It would seem that you should always train together to get the desired result. This is not true. Let's take an example from boxing. An indicator of a boxer's skill is a fight with an opponent, but this does not mean that he constantly has to fight. Also, the ability to dance is built on the possession of one's own body and the ability to interact.

The skill of the teacher is the correct selection of methods so that the student masters the skill. Based on the skill, you can engage in creativity and self-expression in dance. Not everyone knows, but it is no coincidence that almost all social dance dancers have a serious dance background, which is based on the development of individual techniques.

The same can be attributed to the interaction in a pair. The ability to separate in oneself the one who leads and the one who follows the lead is impossible within the framework of studying the sequence of movements in pairs. For this, there are special exercises that make the skill more versatile. For this, the presence of a permanent couple is not necessary, as well as the regular presence of a partner in general.

IMPORTANT! You can’t experiment at a party, and everything should be in its place there: men dance with women.

Getting rid of illusions is a complex internal process. If you leave them to yourself, you can even get the opposite result.

Misconception 5: plastique and stretching are mandatory attributes of dance

Much depends on the genre of dance that you want to master. In previous articles, I have already mentioned that different dance styles are suitable for different ages. It is appropriate to dance hip-hop in adolescence or youth, Argentine tango is a more adult dance, it is important to enter classical choreography at a young age.

The degree of necessary plasticity and sensitivity to the dance direction also correlates. For example, breaking requires great physical effort and dexterity. Elements are built on acrobatics and high speed of execution. Who are they more suitable for? Obviously young people.

There is a lot of interaction in salsa. It is necessary to feel the partner subtly, to be able to show a variety of figures and elements. Twine or acrobatics are completely inappropriate here. However, a variety of ways to show oneself are required. Accordingly, the dance is youthful, but not at all childish.

The older the dance, the less stretching or acrobatics is required. The main emphasis is on the quality of technology, the variety of ideas and the ability to show plasticity.

Misconception 6: Mirrors are necessary for learning

There is a set of instruments that dancers use to learn how to dance. The fact is that the dancer needs to receive feedback on how his movements look from the side. It is impossible to dance and see yourself from the side at the same time. The most common tool is a mirror. But not the only one.

Like any auxiliary tool, mirrors have positive and negative effects. The positive is that they can receive feedback in real time and technically it is not very difficult. The downside can be dependence on mirrors. A situation where a dancer cannot capture the feeling of dancing, such as on stage or at a party. For these purposes, you can use, among other things, video filming or proper preparation.

In many countries in Latin America, dance classrooms are not equipped with mirrors. Classes are held in bars or large halls. The dancers initially form the skill of focusing on the inner sensation, and not the habit of looking for their reflection in the mirror with their eyes.

Misconception 7: there is a lot of obsceneness in dancing

A common question from novice dancers who are taking their first steps in more contact couple dances is “in order to dance cool, there must be passion inside the couple?”. I immediately answer that no, not necessarily. Kizomba, bachata and Argentine tango attract many with their close contact. Like any other contact in our everyday life, in dances, contact can be different. We hug friends, parents, children. These hugs can wear many different shades. Sexual overtones are one of many.

The culture of dance also includes the boundaries of what is acceptable. A compliment from a well-mannered person is different from a statement about female sexuality by a gopnik. Usually, those who study at a dance school already have an idea of what boundaries should not be crossed. A good dance from a technical point of view will never look vulgar or vulgar.
Dancers always have a choice about the boundaries of contact. Most prefer to leave a good impression of themselves, as word spreads just as fast in the dance world.

Misconception 8: the best dancers are the bearers of culture

Even the very question of the origin of a particular dance can be paradoxical and ambiguous, especially when it comes to its development and performance.

For example, the Viennese waltz did not originate in Vienna, but in Germany. Salsa has its main roots in the USA, not in Cuba. The famous Greek folk dance sirtaki was invented for the film "Zorba the Greek" and appeared only in 1964.

The same can be attributed to the development of modern dance styles. Korea is known for its world-leading break dancers. People go to Turkey for Argentine tango, Spain is strong with excellent salsa and bachata dancers, in Egypt, Russians are considered the best belly-dance performers.

A good dance is based on quality training and diligence. Skin color, place of birth and age are secondary. Exotic appearance, unfortunately, is often a reason to be more superficial about one's own professional development. This becomes the reason for the low level of teaching among the bearers of culture. I am sure that few readers of this post will be ready to conduct a master class in Russian folk dance outside of Russia.

The mastery of mastering and teaching a particular style does not depend on the dancer's homeland. And "they absorbed the dance with their mother's milk" is nothing more than a common misconception.

Misconception 9: You have to know a lot of moves to learn to dance

Focusing on learning a lot of moves often detracts from the essence of dance. Of course, the sequence of figures is important. Especially at the start. Over time, the dancer should have an understanding of how movements can be generated independently. Accordingly, instead of memorizing millions of figures, you can understand how to create them.

From every system of improvisation that a dancer can use as an instrument, dozens, hundreds or thousands of variations are derived. This frees the head from trying to reproduce the exact sequence and definitely adds freedom in the performance of the dance.

The huge theme of musicality can be attributed to the same question. Not every pre-conceived or learned sequence will fit specific music. The dance should give freedom, and not drive the dancer into the shell of the ropes.

Misconception 10: dancing is homosexual

The unusually high attention to the body and the flair from stories about professional ballet led to the spread of this myth, among other things. Unfortunately, such an idea still exists in the minds of our fellow citizens.

The dance industry is now very broad and is represented by many dance styles. Some of them can even be called homophobic. Dances reflect the general attitude to the world and it is different depending on the life position and worldview of a person.

In many dances there is contact between the dancers. In Russia, dance contact between men has always been perceived very intensely. In most other countries it is different. An example of the fact that this tension is associated only with the dance theme and does not apply to other areas is, for example, wrestling. When practicing techniques, men are in much closer contact with each other. Sometimes lying on the floor and holding each other tightly. The historical roots of Greco-Roman wrestling are also ambiguous from a sexual point of view. But in our country, unlike dance, they are perceived as acceptable and brutal.

Dance, like the culture of speech, makes a modern person more successful and self-confident.