Greatest Dancers of all the Time

      People who know much about music and dancing can enumerate a great number of dancers of all times in the whole world. Their skills and talents can be observed during major dance championships, they can be seen in films, clips, musicals, at concerts. In this article the examples of such great artists as Michael Jackson, Michael Flatley and Isadora Duncan are given.

        Michael Jackson entered the world history not only as a sensational singer but also as a great dancer. He arrested the audience’s attention thanks to his unique and incredible dance technique. The very first success in this walk of life came to Michael Jackson after the performing the song “Dancing Machine”. The singer invented a new move which was called “robot”. This innovation was a very great success and after the releasing of that song many people began to imitate this move. Nobody could assume that it was only beginning. Even a greater sensation was caused by appearing of the so called “moon walk”. The “moon walk” was represented by steps up which created the illusion of back motion.

      In 1983 Michael Jackson created a real commotion by performing his great songs and dances. It was obvious that the rhythm of music coincided with the motions which were performed by Jackson. Everything was interconnected including songs, music and dances. Michael Jackson’s fantastic turns and rolls, his staggering “moon walk”, the ability to feel every single tone of the music and to respond to it with movements brought the artist the fame of a genius dancer. While watching his performances people had a feeling that Michael Jackson had no bones as the moves were so precise and supple. At the present moment Michael Jackson has a great number of imitators who try to master his unforgettable techniques.

        Michael Flatley can be also considered a great personality who dedicated his time and even the whole life to the art of dancing. One of the greatest dancers of all times gained the first victory at the age of 17. It is difficult to imagine but it is a real fact that Michael Flatley received the world titles in dancing for 120 times in 13 countries of the world. In the course of many years Flatley invented a new style of dancing which represented a mixture of the Irish and American step and flamenco. His first show “Riverdance” was a colossal success. It was the first time when the large audience got acquainted with the Irish dancing. In 1996 a new show appeared which was called “Lord of the Dance”. Michael Flatley showed his worth in this performance as dancer, choreographer and musician. Nearly 14 years have passed since the appearance of the show “Lord of the Dance” however nowadays the performance also enjoys wide popularity.

       Speaking about great dancers of all time we should include another famous dancer of the previous century Isadora Duncan, who was born in 1877. Isadora Duncan gave preference to the modern style of dancing. She was among the first dancers who began to introduce brave and bold ideas into the process of dancing. Duncan’s famous saying concerning the dance runs as follows: “To dance is to live. What I want is a school of life.” While performing Isadora put her whole soul and energy into it. The worshippers of Isadora Duncan remembered her as a great dancer who was performing the beautiful motions in free-flowing dresses and bare feet.

Salsa Dancing Instructions

Salsa is characterized through a diversity of styles. The dance itself can be performed differently depending on the country and geographic area. By origin Salsa refers to Cuba. Later it became widespread in Puerto Rico and on the Caribbean Islands.

     One of the most distinctive features of Salsa is represented by the beats in the music. The beats in the music should be always accentuated. It is worth mentioning that Salsa is a partner dance. The man takes the role of the leader and consequently the woman has to follow him. The man sets the tone and the rhythm of the dance and at some definite moments he lets his partner understand with the help of pushes and checks how to step and how to move further.

      The initial position of Salsa assumes face to face contact. The man holds his partner’s right hand in his left hand. His right hand is placed on the woman’s back. As to the woman’s basic position she has to put her left hand on the man’s shoulder. Both partners look each other in the face.

      The next basic moves run as follows. The dancers have to take account of four beat measure. During each four beat measure three weight transfers (steps) are performed. The duration of the “break step” exceeds the other weight changes. Having performed six weight transfers, the partners set about the next step cycle. A great attention is paid to the position of the arms. The position of the arms can be open and closed. In open position the dancers hold the hands in order to perform moves which include turns, going around or rolls. The close position represents face to face contact.

      As it was mentioned above Salsa can be performed differently which means that there are a great variety of styles like Los Angeles Style, New York Style, Cali Salsa Style, Miami Style Casino.

       As Los Angeles Style regards it has some common features with Mango, Swing and Argentine Tango.

      While performing it the dancer pays attention to two main aspects. These aspects are forward or backward basic. The man begins the performing by taking a step forward, and then he steps with his right foot turning 90 degrees counter-clockwise. The woman takes a step forward, and further she makes a turn. During this time her partner turns again 90 degrees counter-clockwise. This is the main principle of performing Los Angeles Salsa Style.

      Thanks to its vigorous and inflammatory rhythms nowadays Salsa is famous not only in the Latin America where it appeared but also in the whole world.

Dance Styles

Electronic Dance	1 2 3 4 5	Electro Dance Jump Style Hip-Hop Dance House Dance Breaking	1     2         3       4           5	Electric Dance represents a kind of street dance performed to Electro House Music. In Jump Style the great emphasis is laid on the legs. On the tones of music Jump Style dancers execute forward and backward swings of the legs. The main elements of Hip-Hop Dance are free styling, chippers and battles. The dance is performed to Hip-Hop music. The House Dance was created by Afro and Latino Americans. House Dancers perform fast and complex steps. These elements are combined with movements in the torso. Break Dance was created by Afro-Americans. Later the dance was widespread among Latino Americans. The most important components of Breaking are toprock, downrock, power moves and freezes. Very often it is performed to Hip-Hop music.
Ballroom Dance	1 2 3 4	Waltz Tango Foxtrot Quickstep	1     2             3         4	Waltz is a dance which is performed by two partners in closed position. Tango was created in Argentine. It is danced in closed position, however American style allows the tango dancers to include open position in order to perform moves, turns and to dance apart. Foxtrot is a style of ballroom dance. The basic figures include three step, feather step, natural turn reverse turn, closed impetus. Quickstep has got some similarities with Fast Foxtrot. The style of performing is very energetic, however the dance itself is considered to be very elegant.
Latin Dance	1 2 3 4 5	Mambo Rumba Cha-cha-cha Samba Salsa	1   2     3       4       5	Mambo was created in Cuba. It corresponds to mambo music. Rumba is an energetic dance. The main emphasis is laid on the hip movements. Cha-cha-cha is a dance of Cuban origin. The dance may be performed either to authentic Cuban music or to Latin Pop.  Samba is a Brazilian Dance. The dance movements are influenced by Afro-Brazilian traditional dances. Salsa is a fast Latin American Dance which is influenced by jazz music.
Swing Dance	1 2 3	Blues Dance Lindy Hop Charleston	1       2                 3	Blue Dance is a modern Term to describe a series of historical dances that were performed to blues music. The basic step of Lindy Hop is swingout. The dance includes the usual eight-count system which is used in European partner dances. However the Lindy Hop may be performed by a single dancer. The dancers have resort to the motions and improvisations of black dances. Charleston enjoyed wide popularity in the 1920’s. It may be performed solo, with a dance partner or in group of couples. The basic step gives the dancers the possibility to have a great number of variations and improvisations.