Step dance

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Step dance is the generic term for dance styles where the footwork is the most important part of the dance. Body and arm movements and styling are either restricted or considered irrelevant.

Step dance is one end of a spectrum of dance styles. The opposite extreme is Formation dances (eg Square dance), where the movement patterns around the dance floor and armwork are the most important factors, and the footwork is very simple. Most social dances fall between these two extremes.

There are very few pure step dances, as most include at least some upper body or arm styling. Often step dances performed in shows add elements of show styling, which can bring them into conflict with the traditionalists.

The Irish dance tradition includes Irish stepdance, possibly the best known form of step dance, often marked by rigidly held upper body. Irish stepdance has two main forms: hardshoe, a percussive dance form, and light shoe, a form which is primarily about the movement, not the sound.

Other step dances include Tap, Clogging, Canadian step dance, Cape Breton step dance, some forms of Scots and English folk dance and Malambo from Argentina.

Another form of step dancing, Stepping, has been popularized by National Pan-Hellenic Council and National Association of Latino Fraternal Organizations member organizations. This step dance has African roots and is an African American tradition as well as part of Black History. The members of the fraternities and sororities join in steps — elaborate synchronized group routines that are performed in competitions between the fraternities and sororities called "step shows." Step shows incorporates cheerleading, military, and drill-team moves, especially the call-and-response element inherent in those forms. These aspects are not only important to the energy of stepping for entertainment use but also for bonding and pride within their organizations.