DK - WOW! The Visual Encyclopedia of Everything

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◀ TRIBAL DANCE

These traditional African dances,

often performed to the beat of a

drum, are important parts of many

ceremonies, both joyful (weddings

and coming-of-age celebrations) and

sad (funerals). Tribal dances help to

unite and uplift the community.

LIMBO ▶

The limbo was

created in the Caribbean

Islands. Performers have

to dance under a

horizontal pole without

touching it or losing

their balance. The pole is

lowered after each

round until one

limbo champion

dancer remains.

▲ FLAMENCO

With its roots in small villages of the

Andalusian region in Spain, flamenco is a

passionate style of music and dance with a

strong, powerful rhythm. Dancers click

their fingers and stamp their feet to match

the drama of the guitar music.

◀ TANGO

This dramatic dance for couples

began as a street dance in

Argentina and Uruguay

during the mid-1800s.

With hands tightly clasped,

dancers either face each other,

or look in the same direction,

as they move to the beat.

Tango is also the name for

the music associated with

the dance.

CAN-CAN ▶

This high-kicking, cartwheeling

dance began in Paris in the 1830s,

and was originally for couples.

French dance troupes soon took up

the can-can in music halls, where

chorus lines of girls

performed the

energetic dance.

Castanets were not

originally part of “true”

flamenco, but were

introduced to add drama

Dancers swirl

their skirts and

petticoats as

part of the

performance

Flamenco dress features

a tight-fitting bodice

with a layered skirt for

easy movement

Touching the limbo

pole means the

dancer is out of the

competition

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