Top 10 Hardest Dance Styles to Learn

Do you have the moves to master these dance styles? For this list, we’ll be looking at some of the dances from around the world that require a lot of skill but look awesome when you nail them. Our countdown includes Irish dance, swing dance, breakdancing, and more! What's the hardest dance style YOU know? Let us know in the comments!

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MsMojo is a leading producer of reference online video content of Top 10 Lists, Origins, Biographies, Commentary and more on Pop Culture, Celebrity, Movies, Music, TV, Film, Video Games, Politics, News, Comics, Superheroes. Your trusted authority on ranking Pop Culture.

#Dance #Choreography #Dancing #Music #Ballet

[mlww]

Thirty five years of ballet and I'm still learning new combinations and techniques. The mind is willing, the body less so - I started way to late in life, but I still love it.

[The_birbs_are_watching_you]

Irish dancer of 10 years here. Just want to clarify that the competitive Irish dance world is completely different from the performance/recreational world. But yes, Irish dance ain't as easy as it looks. It takes years of practice and training(for most, some will move up faster than others), and working your arse off to get anywhere in the competitive world.

[susieQcumber]

I remember back in the 70's they took a college football team and made them train in ballet. They said their game improved dramatically and it was harder than anything they had ever physically done.

[kianim]

The grace needed for Indian traditional dances are rarely seen anywhere in the world. With the expressions and graceful poise angelic hand and feet gestures and body curves might seem easy but to master it perfectly and PROPERLY you need a generation’s practice

[adriennemcgowan]

Even after 26 years of doing Irish, I will never once think it’s easy lol

[whitequeenofficial]

As someone who's been doing Eastern European folkdance since I was a kid the urge to learn and master all of these is so strong

[morgans]

it's too bad they didn't show clips of competitive Irish dancing (and not with the little kids haha), the level at the Irish dance world championships is way more intense than what was shown here. The performance world of irish dance versus the competitive world is quite different

[heatherlewis]

I've done Irish dancing for 6 years, and it's definitely not easy.

[mollyhowieson]

Highland dancing is another challenging type of dance. As with any type of dance, there are a lot of precise, difficult movements that require a lot of stamina and coordination. Specifically the sword dance. Most highland dancers, that I know, will say that with even with years and years of experience, the sword dance never gets easier. But we dance through it, in our wool kilts, with smiles on our faces.

[TheLuthkica]

They didn't mention the most challenging thing about Irish dance, especially competitive one, is you are always high on your toes! And those leaps - like you are trying for a gold medal at the Olympic high jump! Just like with ballet dancing, you have to start early (4-6) if you want to be professional one day, and I had a few friends who switched from ballet to Irish dance say how hard it is to leap and jump in Irish - you can't bend your knees like in ballet, can't use your arms for balance, etc. I don't say it is harder than ballet but is somewhere there - more a sport than dance!

[kindlydude]

It was nice to see all the dances included from around the world. But a huge gap, in my estimation, in your list would be Indian, Thai and Balinese/Javanese Classical dance which in my studied opinion is every bit as challenging as Classical Ballet. Even facial expressions are part of the dance in all of these. Also Ballet Folklorica ...or Mexican Traditional Dance is high on my list for joy of movement and enjoyment of watching. It's a cornucopia out there. And traditional dances or folk-dancing must be DANCED and LEARNED by the young people of every country to be preserved and appreciated into the future!

[taylergentry]

As someone who has taken part in my college's theater productions, I have learned three of these dance styles. I know swing (East coast), tap, and I learned Irish this past semester. All three of these styles are so fun.

[ansleyhendrix]

I’m in total agreement. Ballet is my favoorite dance because it is so challenging… But rewarding! I was shook when I finally learned to pirouette!

[annehale]

no but being a competitive irish dancer, i was so happy that people actually recognized it though i think that it could of been dank a bit higher

[hollied]

You know what shocked me at how hard it was to learn? Hula!! I took hula for 2 months, it was so hard! You’ve gotta dance, sing and sign at the same time. It looks so beautiful and effortless when done well.

[shanematerkowski]

You should have also mentioned Chinese Lion Dancing! It’s literally a competitive sport around the world! We dance on poles 20+ feet off the ground while in a lion costume that obscures our vision! We also have to be perfectly on time with the drumming and create the illusion of being a real live animal! I think it should be an olympic sport!

[MissSirenita]

I dropped out of ballet cause it was so exhausting as a kid. I 100% expect it to be number one because of how much muscle, brute strength, yet femininity and elegance it requires. That balance you have as you lift the back of your foot to balance on your toes is not easy. It looks easy but it’s not. I know people who don’t consider it a sport because it’s just too “easy” but it should be because of how risky and challenging it is. I can never pull it off.

[Ripplesinthewaters]

I am an Irish dancer in a community company. It really is difficult, but so, so rewarding!!!! :)

[laurenmontera]

"Best dance moves" in high school, I was in a club for belly dancing in college, learned 4 moves of breakdancing from my dad, did an Irish dance course in high school, a ballet recital as a kid while also in tap dance class and when I met my husband, we went to a swing dance hall.

[tiredmummy]

The thing that amazes me is that in dance, in 9 out of 10 styles, the women have more intricate/difficult moves and they do it in high heels!!!!