Chapters
Dance and music are two art forms, intimately intertwined.
The choice of music is crucial in the approach to dance; those sounds that fill your dance class complement your moves in utter harmony.
Whether you are a dance instructor or a student of dance, it is essential to choose inspiring pieces that motivate and boost the concert of movement to sound.
Hip hop, classical or contemporary dance: a style for all corresponding to anyone's taste!
Discover now our selection of the most adaptable music to your style of dance.
What Melodies to Select for Classical Dance?
Whether to organize a dance party or to prepare a ballet class, the whole affair hinges on choosing the best melodies.
Ballet dancing is an exercise in focus: the dancer will pay more heed to melody than to the lyrics of any song.
Some ballerinas take advantage of the relative absence of lyrics in classical music to discover new dance steps as a means of enriching their musical culture.
In fact, practicing classical dance – or the Viennese waltz, the standard waltz and any other ballroom dance allows dancers to recover, from posterity, famous tunes composed by the greatest musicians of all time, from around the world.
There are many albums composed wholly of great classical dance tunes:
- La Danse par le disque, barre and milieu, by Colette Altruc
- a complete course of classical dance
- Classical Dance: Complete Course, by Anne Thomas
- Warm-up Music for Classical Dance, by Ballet Jazz Company
- Music from the Paris Classical Dance Class, by Ellina Akimova
- Ballets for Children, by the Royal Opera House, London
- Classical Music, Dance Music, by Trio Raisner
- Classical dance music, music by Ballet Academy
Schubert, Mozart, Beethoven: aficionados of ballet barre exercises adapted to a floor workout regime, and those who prefer to dance in half-pointes often have a favorite composer adapted to their musical tastes and to the tempo of their movements.
Our advice: watch professional ballets, such as Swan Lake or Nutcracker, to discover classical music while taking inspiration from accomplished dancers!
The Top Modern Jazz Dance Songs
This style of expression in dance is THE current wave in dance schools everywhere!
Popular among beginners and confirmed dancers alike, modern jazz dancing is taught via group lessons or during private dance classes.
The advantage of this style of dance? It is particularly open – more of a freestyle that allows students to learn the moves through diverse, variable music.
Here is a small, decidedly non-exhaustive list of the most popular music in modern jazz:
- Breathe Me - Sia
- Video Games - Lana del Rey
- Joga - Björk
- Iron - Woodkid
- Follow Me - Muse
- Time after Time - Cindy Lauper
- A Little Less Conversation - Elvis Presley
- Je te Donne (I Give to You) - Jean-Jacques Goldman
- Hung Up - Madonna
- Rock your Body - Justin Timberlake
- Play Hard - David Guetta
- Candy - Robbie Williams
Your choice of music is crucial to achieving any choreographic sequence worthy of the name.
In order to prepare for an entrance examination to any national conservatory, the aspiring dance candidate is generally permitted expression through free dance.
Rousing, inspiring music will allow the future professional dancer or the future professional ballerina to perform a passionate choreography that will surely reveal his/her soul for dancing!
Find great dancing classes here on Superprof.
Music for Contemporary Dance
Contemporary dance is arguably one of the most impressive dance styles today.
Letting one's spirit soar while maintaining tight control over movement and technique is the trademark of the master contemporary dancer.
Dancing solo or with a partner is best done with music adapted to the artist's tastes.
The best way to choose music would be selections that are in line with one's own technique: some music favours acrobatic sequences, while others allow you to dance exquisitely, at a slower tempo.
What do you think of our selection of the best contemporary dance songs?
- Come Home, by One Republic
- Chandelier - Sia
- Halo, by Beyoncé
- Mad World - Gary Jules
- California King Bed - Rihanna
- Don’t You Remember, by Adele
- Make You Feel my Love - Adele
- Catch Me, by Demi Lovato
- Comptine d’un Autre été - Yann Tiersen
- from the soundtrack of the French film Amélie
- The Scientist by Coldplay
- Come Away With Me from Norah Jones
- Only You - Joshua Radin
Contemporary dance is most certainly an emotional expression; thus it is recommended to select music according to its mood.
For example, you might play Always Midnight from Pat Monahan for a sad dance. The uplifting song Say, by John Mayer, would be more suited to a more hopeful, happy dance.
Contemporary dance students are advised to create an original playlist; perhaps in the "My Playlist" section of their favourite music streaming site.
Find great dance classes online here on Superprof.
What Songs to Play for Latin Dances?
Dance is the vertical expression of a horizontal desire made legal by music. – George Bernard Shaw
The Latin dances – merengue, bachata, cha cha, paso doble, rumba and others, are a celebration of love!
Thanks to its choreography, in turn delicate and rhythmic, the Latin style of dance leads learners to discovering their body's innate sensuality.
It should not be confused with Salsa dancing, even though both styles of dance have the same origin and share some traditions – and quite a few moves.
This genre of social dance is often included under the broad umbrella of ballroom dancing, but maintains itself as a separate discipline from the more formal footwork of dances choreographed for the ballroom, such as the foxtrot, swing or tango.
Latin dances are generally couples' dances; getting close to your partner is key to realistic presentation of intimate moves in South American dances.
Due to the emergence of Latin pop music, Latin dance lessons are growing in popularity.
Dance teachers can hardly train and restrain all of the new students seeking to retain choreography based on frenetic Latin rhythm!
Who knows? perhaps you too will meet your amour by dancing to music coming directly from the hot tropics?
Here are our top Latin selections to move your body to:
- Loca Loca by Shakira
- Bailando by Enrique Iglesias
- Despacito by Luis Fonsi, Daddy Yankee and Justin Bieber
- The Lambada from Kaoma
- Zouk Machine from Maldon
- I Belong to You by Lenny Kravitz
- Let Go from Collective Mixed
- Obsession – Aventura
- Enamorame by Papi Sanchez
- Lo Que Paso Paso by Daddy Yankee
- I Know you Want Me from Pitbull
- The Camisa Negra - Juanes
Follow the rhythm of these tunes to let your star shine during your Salsa class or your Mambo course!
Find salsa classes near me.
Tone Your Body with Zumba Dancing
Before being considered an art form, dance should be thought of as a sport in its own right.
Zumba and Aquazumba, pole dancing, stretching, and even step aerobics: these are all examples of how music can influence physical fitness through dance.
To obtain a slender, toned body one must train regularly. Before training, warming up is essential, and not just because it provides a good dose of motivation for the workout session ahead!
To be motivated during lessons in sports dance with a famous choreographer, for your dance class in London or during any self-taught course, the whole matter is made more enjoyable by dancing to the rhythms and the beats you like.
Dance teachers usually create a convivial atmosphere by playing a mix of popular songs, to please as many class participants as possible while getting fit together.
Here are a few suggestions for music sure to get you moving!
- Vamos a la Playa by Loona
- Feels by Calvin Harris
- Bangarang by Skrillex
- Animals by Martin Garrix
- Wake me Up from Avicii
- Get Low from Zedd and Liam Payne
- It Ain't Me by Selena Gomez and Kygo
- Lean on by Major Lazer and DJ Snake
- Now you're Gone from Basshunter
- We're in Heaven by DJ Sammy
- Hello by Martin Solveig
- This one's for You by David Guetta and Zara Larsson.
You've figured right: in sports dance music, it's all about rhythm and beat!
The songs played during online Zumba or step dance classes are generally the same as during club dance classes.
Now you can learn to move your body to the songs of the most famous DJs in the world!
Find great dance classes in Abuja here on Superprof.
Hip Hop: Our Selection of Music
Street Dance, freestyle, new style or break dance: break out your groove with hip hop tracks to count yourself among the world's most popular dancers!
Besides being a sports discipline, hip hop is a lifestyle that demands concentration, motivation and agility.
Thanks to the lively atmosphere of Leeds' hip hop dance classes, students of street dance work their cardio and agility.
So popular has this style of dancing become that hip hop dance, in all of its variations, is now taught in fitness dance clubs around the world!
Here is our list of essential songs for the aspiring and professional hip hop dancer:
- In Da Club - 50 Cent
- Unforgettable by French Montana
- 99 Problems from Jay-Z
- California Love - Tupac
- Turn Down for What by DJ Snake
- Humble - Kendrick Lamar
- Money in the Bank by Lil Scrappy
- Memories - David Guetta et Kid Cudi
- Juicy - Notorious BIG
- Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
- I Gotta Feeling from Black Eyed Peas
- Low - Flo Rida
Do you want to learn a new dance, but don't want to buy any music for dancing?
The ideal way to access new music is to stream it.
With applications like Spotify or Soundcloud, whether performing in a dance club or a student in dance school, you can always find tracks to pop your hip hop between classes.
What's stopping you from expanding your repertoire; learning the choreography of your new favourite song?
To find inspiration, take a look at the most popular quotes about dancing.
Or if you're interested in reading about dance films, follow the link!
Learn to dance with a Superprof tutor:
- Find dance classes near me in London
- Find dance classes Glasgow
- Try pole dancing classes in London
The platform that connects tutors and students
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating.
Loading...