Can You Match the Dance to Its Country of Origin?

By: Jouviane Alexandre
Estimated Completion Time
1 min
Can You Match the Dance to Its Country of Origin?
Image: youtube

About This Quiz

Whether you're watching "Dancing with the Stars" or at home surfing the Internet, you might wonder where the dances of the world have originated. From the tango to something as simple as disco, can you match the dance to its country of origin? Let's find out!
Disco
Cambodia
Tanzania
England
United States
Disco is another dance that came after the music. Originating in the United States, the dance was made popular in night clubs during the '60s and '70s.
Mambo
Cuba
The Mambo is a dance that comes straight from the island of Cuba. The dance was first seen in the 1930s and is typically danced to the Cuban genre of music with the same name.
Sweden
Malaysia
Russia
Jig
Uruguay
France
Ethiopia
England
The dance style, the jig, originated in England during the 1500s. Since then, the style has been seen in most of Western Europe, including countries such as Ireland and Scotland.

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Azonto
Belgium
Germany
Ghana
Azonto is an African dance that bloomed from the genre, Azonto music, that hails from Ghana. In recent years, the style has grown internationally.
Canada
Irish Step Dancing
Iceland
China
Ireland
Obviously by its name, Irish step-dancing comes from Ireland. The style is often seen with the dancers keeping their arms to their sides or behind their backs while the entire dance is done with their feet.
Ghana
Traditional Folk Dance
Switzerland
While many nations are able to have their own interpretation of folk dancing, it is believed that the concept of traditional folk dancing flourished from Switzerland.
Guyana
Austria
Philippines

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Dougie
Morocco
Switzerland
Peru
United States
The Dougie is a popular hip-hop dance that was born in the United States. Although the dance was originally created in the '80s, the style gained fame in 2009 when a song by Cali Swag District called "Teach Me How to Dougie" was released.
Jive
Scotland
Uganda
Netherlands
United States
If you're looking for the origins of the jive, you'll find that in the United States. Although it is now considered a popular 'Latin' dance, it originated in the U.S. in the 1930s.
Foxtrot
Botswana
Poland
United States
If you're a "Dancing With the Stars" fan, you'll definitely see the foxtrot. Originating in the United States, the dance was introduced in the early 1900s with smooth motions and quick, gliding steps.
Greece

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Cha Cha
Somalia
Cuba
If you want the authentic cha-cha, you'll find it down in Cuba. This dance which originated in the 1950s is characterized by the sultry hip movements.
Argentina
Portugal
Charleston
United States
Born in the United States, the Charleston was a popular dance with huge movements. Popular throughout the 1920s, you'd definitely find some flappers dancing with this style.
Kenya
Japan
Finland
Rumba
Colombia
Bolivia
Cuba
Slow and sensual, the rumba is a popular dance that comes from Cuba. A popular ballroom style dance, the rumba is characterized with smooth movements and flaring arms. The dance originated in the late 1800s.
Brazil

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Bollywood
Angola
Taiwan
Cuba
India
Bollywood dancing is a distinct dance style that came about in Bollywood films. Originating in India, the newer dance is a fusion of older, more traditional Indian styles.
Vogue
Zambia
Turkey
United States
Another dance originating in United States, voguing came out of the club scene. Much of the dance is in the movements of the arms and hands.
Ireland
Dragon Dance
South Korea
China
With the traditional dragon dance, the actual dance is done by an object versus people. Originating in China, a group of people control a makeshift dragon and its movements, which are meant to be fluid.
Mexico
South Africa

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Viennese Waltz
Libya
Austria
One of the more classical ballroom dances, the Viennese Waltz hails from Austria. Around since the 1700s, the dance has had many additions, but its most traditional form is now regarded as the Viennese Waltz.
India
Hungary
Soca
Algeria
Spain
Italy
Trinidad and Tobago
Soca dancing is another form that has grown through the music. Soca is the genre of music that comes from Trinidad and Tobago, and the dance is characterized with the swinging of the hips.
Belly Dancing
Thailand
Egypt
Belly dancing is a popular style of dance that originated in Egypt. With the movements lying mostly in the movement of the abdomen, it is called belly dancing due to the major rolling of the belly.
Senegal
Cyprus

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The Twist
Egypt
Nigeria
United States
Another dance from the United States, the twist became popular in the late 1950s. Although the dance came first, the original song recorded by Hank Ballard and then re-recorded by Chubby Checker brought the dance to the entire country.
Venezuela
Flamenco
Liberia
Dominican Republic
Peru
Spain
The flamenco appeared in Spain in the late 1700s. The dance varies from slow, sensual movements to fast, powerful steps.
Tango
Italy
Austria
Botswana
Argentina
For the origins of the tango, you'd have to travel to Argentina. The dance appeared in the late 1880s and is characterized by long, gliding steps, quick kicks and deep dips.

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Breaking
Senegal
United States
Breaking is a popular hip-hop dance that originated in New York City. The dance appeared in the '70s with hard, strong movements and body freezes while on the ground.
Cambodia
Russia
Jitterbug
Brazil
Peru
United States
For the origins of the jitterbug, you'll also find yourself headed to the United States. First seen in the early 1900s, the dance is popular for its quick steps, huge kicks and swinging of the female partner.
Japan
Bachata
Somalia
Argentina
Iceland
Dominican Republic
The bachata is a dance that hails from the Dominican Republic. Originating in the 1960s, the dance can be performed singularly or with a partner.

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Ballet
Finland
Italy
While you might get tricked into thinking ballet came from France because of the name, you'd be wrong. Ballet originated in Italy during the 1400s, and soon the style moved across Europe and into Russia.
France
Turkey
Samba
Morocco
Brazil
If you'd like to learn the samba, you'd find its origins in Brazil. Appearing in the early 1900s, the Samba is a fast-paced dance with intricate, fast-paced footwork and the slightly swinging of the hips.
Malaysia
Canada
Can-Can
United States
Portugal
Thailand
France
The can-can is a popular dance that originated in France as early as the 1820s. The dance is performed with huge movements and high kicks.

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Zumba
Mexico
England
Algeria
Colombia
Zumba is a dance that appeared not too long ago at the end of the 20th century in Colombia. This new style of dance is a fusion of dancing and exercise.
Swing
France
Zambia
United States
If you're looking for the origins of swing dancing, you'd once again head to the United States. A popular partner dance, this style is characterized by quick movements and jazz music that is set as its soundtrack.
Netherlands
Kabuki
Japan
Kabuki is a theatrical Japanese dance that was first seen in the early 1600s. The dance commonly features women dressed in kimonos performing slow, steady movements with fans.
Greece
Tanzania
Philippines

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Paso doble
India
Libya
Spain
The paso doble is a traditional Spanish dance that first appeared in the 1500s. With large, dramatic movements, the classic music that now matches the style is often associated with bullfights.
Guyana
Quickstep
United States
For the origins of the quickstep, you'd find the dancers in the early 1920s. The dance is thought to be a combination of other popular 20th century dances of the time.
Spain
South Africa
Sweden
Salsa
Cuba
South Korea
Cuba
If you'd like to discover the roots of the salsa, you'd have to travel to Cuba. This dance is mostly performed with the forward and backward movement of the legs.
Venezuela

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Tap Dancing
Scotland
United States
An older dance that came about from many other traditional dances, tap is said to have originated in the United States during the mid-19th century. The classic 'tap' noise is made from metal plates placed on the bottom of shoes.
Poland
Belgium
Merengue
Hungary
Ethiopia
Dominican Republic
Merengue is another style of dance that originated in the Dominican Republic. The dance mostly consists of the dancers shifting their weight from one leg to the other.
Peru
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