Dancing Around the World Trivia Quiz

Answer: Tango

The tango originated in the late 1800s in the Rio de la Plata area. It is a fusion of various African and European dance styles. It originated in working-class neighborhoods and was seen as highly sexualized. In the early 1900s, the style began to spread internationally and became associated with Argentina. It is possible that the word "tango" came from the word "Shang", referencing the Yoruba thunder god.

Rio de la Plata lies on the border between Argentina and Uruguay. A combination of dance styles from Argentina and Uruguay led to the development of the tango.

Answer: Waltz

The style originated in the mid 1700s in the territory of the border between Austria and Germany. Referencing this, it was sometimes called "German dance". Though seen as restrained and conservative now, it was viewed as rather shocking when it came out. In the 1800s the term "waltz" was used to reference a more generic dance that involved turning.

Vienna is the capital of Austria and the elegance of the city has been associated with the waltz for a long time.

Answer: Samba

Samba is a broad dance and music style that originated in the early 1900s. It has become definitively associated with Brazil, and has spread out from Bahia and Rio de Janeiro. The term samba can be traced in print back to the 1800s. Beginning in rural areas, it has since spread to urban ones. The popularity of samba spread with increased airplay on the radio in the 1930s.

Samba came from Bahia and Rio de Janeiro. These were states with a noticeable African influence. The word "samba" refers to a popular dance in Portuguese.

Answer: Dragon Dance

Dragon dance is a traditional type of dance from China. Records of the dance go back over 2,000 years. Teams of dancers manipulate a giant dragon puppet. Dragons are traditionally burned when they are too worn to be used. Traditionally, dragon puppets were made of materials such as bamboo and silk. In modern times, dragons are made of materials such as aluminum and plastic.

Numerous works reference the dragon dance. One such work is "Dreams of Splendor of the Eastern Capital". This Song Dynasty work describes dragon figures made of cloth lit from within by candles. The eastern capital referenced is Kaifeng.

Answer: Rumba

Rumba originated in Cuba in the late 1800s. The word "rumba" is actually used there as a synonym for "party". Beginning in the 1930s, Mexican and Cuban films included rumbas. From Cuba, rumbas has spread to a number of other countries, each with its own distinctive style. In its origin, rumbas has both African and Caribbean roots.

This form of dance began among Afro-Cuban workers in cities such as Havana. The word "rumba" can also be used to refer to a "party".

Answer: Polka

Polka originated in the 1800s, beginning in the Bohemia section of the Czech Republic. It is believed that polka originates from a Czech word meaning "half-step". The music and dance style helped increase the popularity of records in the late 1800s. Since then, polka has spread as a popular dance style in several regions of the world.

Prague is a major city in the Bohemian section of the Czech Republic. The term "polka" first appeared in the magazine "Bohemia" in the 1840s.

Answer: Gavotte

The gavotte originated in southeastern France during the Renaissance. It later became popular at the court. The gavotte is a dance of a moderate tempo, that begins on the downbeat. In the gavotte, the dancers alternately move to the right and the left. Gavottes occasionally appear in more modern works.

Dauphine is a region of southeastern France. The word "gavotte" comes from a Provençal background. Gavottes would later appear at the French court.

Answer: Haka

The Haka is a traditional ceremonial dance in Māori culture. It is performed by both men and women at moments of great ceremonial importance. The Haka can be recognized by the foot stomping. The dance is usually accompanied by a shouted chant. Facial contortions can also be part of the Haka. Haka is associated with the All Blacks rugby team. It is also strongly connected to Māori culture.

The Haka can be used on a number of occasions from welcoming guests to funerals.

Answer: Morris Dance

Morris dancing is an English folk dance that can be traced back to the 1400s. The term "Morris" can be traced back to the term "Moorish". The dancers often use a variety of props. Though Morris Dance was traditionally a men's activity it is now mixed. Morris dancing underwent a revival in the twentieth century.

Though Morris dancing has strong associations with rural life, there are a number of connections between Morris dancing and the very un-rural London. Some of the earliest references to Morris dancing are in the "London Chronicle". One of the earliest references to Morris Dancing is a payment to Morris Dancers by the Goldsmith's Company of London.

Answer: Square Dance

Square dancing has been around for hundreds of years. It is the official dance in many of the United States and the unofficial state dance in many more. Square dancing is usually done with a partner in a group of two or four pairs. Modern square dancing has spread from the United States to a number of additional countries.

While there is no single official dance for the United States, a majority of US states, such as California, have square dancing as the official dance or at least official folk dance. Square dancing can be traced back to the 17th century when it was simply the country dances of rural England.