Who is the best dancer in the world? Top 20 most famous dancers
Even though dance is part of all cultures, some individuals have taken the craft to the next level, thus earning themselves international recognition. There are probably millions of dancers globally, but who is the best dancer in the world?
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To many, dance is a hobby, but to others, it is not only a profession but also a way of life. The question regarding the best dancer in the world is best answered by going back in time and comparing dancers across different generations. Indeed, dance has greatly evolved, but it is not surprising to see people who died decades ago still ranked ahead of today’s dancers.
Who is the best dancer in the world?
Over the years, people have been named legends for dancing. Most of them are musicians who have spent their time rehearsing while are others are professional dancers. Here are the top 10 dancers in the world:
1. Michael Jackson
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Michael is the most popular dancer in the world. At the prime of his career, Michael Jackson was a crowd mover who had fans flock stadiums to watch him do the iconic moonwalk. He rose quickly to become one of the most popular pop stars in the 1980s. MJ is said to have had an amazing talent for dance and rhythm from a young age.
The star looked as energetic on the dance floor in his 50s. Even at his death, his place as the best dancer in the world of all time cannot be disputed.
2. Mikhail Baryshnikov
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Mikhail Baryshnikov is one of the best male dancers. The Russian American dancer and choreographer was born in the Soviet era. He grew to be one of the best male ballet dancers in the world. At one point, he was the artistic director in the American ballet theatre and the New York City ballet.
This position cannot be acquired without one being the world’s best dancer. He has been a great proponent and advocate of modern dance through the promotion and premiership of dozens of new works.
3. Madonna
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Madonna has had a flourishing career as a singer, actress and dancer. She is one of the best-selling artists of all time, and by that, she is also among the best female dancers in the world. Madonna's dance routine is unpredictable as her abilities have often been described as improvised and entertaining.
4. Shakira
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Shakira is ranked among the top dancers. She was spot on when she coined the phrase “hips don’t lie” because when it comes to dancing, they do the talking. The Barranquilla native is a dancer, singer, songwriter, model, record producer, and choreographer. Her career is traced back to her childhood when she started to perform at school.
She would display her skills in Latin, Arabic, belly, and rock and roll dancing. She is known for her flawless dance moves that blend seamlessly with her melodic voice which is why she is among the best female dancers.
5. Chris Brown
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Chris Brown is an American singer, songwriter, producer, actor and dancer. His past is categorized by ups and downs filled with drama, but when it comes to dancing, he has remained consistent. He is the prime candidate for the best dancer in the United States. His moves are also part and parcel of his musical style.
6. Joaquin Cortes
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Joaquin Cortes is from Spain although his origin is in Roma. He is trained in classical ballet and flamenco dance. He established himself as a talented dancer and subsequently became a sex symbol adored by women and men alike. He is the founder of the Joaquin Cortes flamenco ballet company and has toured the world performing in packed arenas.
7. Martha Graham
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True dance lovers know the story of Martha Graham because she single-handedly reshaped American dance. Not so many people have dance styles named after them, but Martha Graham is among the lucky ones. The Graham technique (created by Martha) has been labelled as the cornerstone of American modern dance.
It has been taught for close to a century and continues to influence other modern techniques. Considering all that, she can be described as one of the best female dancers in the world.
8. Usher
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American singer, songwriter, actor, entrepreneur and dancer Usher Raymond grew up in an era when music videos were equally as important as songs. This meant he had to spice up his music videos with unique dance moves.
His style of dance was recognized, earning him a spot among the most talented dancers in the world. He may not be the best breakdancer in the world ever, but he ranks up there among the best.
9. Prabhu Deva
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Prabhu Deva is not an ordinary dancer. The Indian national is also an actor, choreographer, and producer of Indian dance. He has had a long, illustrious career of more than 25 years.
He is credited for introducing international dancing styles in Indian movies through his work in Tamil, Telugu, Bollywood, Malayalam, and Kannada films. Michael Jackson is his idol and dance influence. As a result, Prabhu has perfected styles such as the iconic moonwalk, hip-thrust and quirky moves.
10. Rudolf Nureyev
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Nureyev had already established himself as one of the best dancers in the world before he died in 1993. This is even though he started his career late but compensated for that by pushing himself hard rehearsing for hours. He was laid to rest in a Russian cemetery in Sainte-Genevieve-des-Bois near Paris more than two decades ago.
11. Les Twins
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Les Twins is a hip hop duo from Paris, France. Their names are Larry and Laurent Bourgeois. They are recognized internationally for their talents in new styles of hip-hop dancing and other dancing styles. The twin brothers have won multiple awards for dancing together, including the 2017 World of Dance competition.
They debuted their career dancing on the streets of Paris for passersby. The biggest break in their career came in 2008 when they became the finalists in Paris' Incroyable Talent show. Over the course of their career, they have performed with renowned celebrities, including Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Missy Elliot. The twins are the founding members of the Criminal Crew and Eleven Paris.
12. Beyonce
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Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, famously known as Beyonce, also features on the list of the best dancers in the world. She debuted her career performing in various singing and dancing competitions as a child. Beyonce rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of Destiny's Child.
In addition to her successful music albums, she is famous for her iconic dance moves, which she has perfected over the years. You will be surprised to know that her best dance moves have been created in conjunction with the Single Ladies choreography.
13. Hrithik Roshan
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Hrithik Roshan is famous for his appearance in Hindi films. Over the years, Hrithik has made his mark in the Indian film industry and has managed to impress his fans with his dancing skills. His noteworthy performances have always left his fans yearning for more. He makes dancing look effortless, and you cannot stop admiring him when he is on the dance floor.
There's no stiffness in his moves, no resistance to any step. His spectacular dance moves are the highlight of his films. He learned this art from none other than Prabhu Deva, one of the well-known dancers, choreographers, actors.
Hrithik's dancing style isn't just limited to one form. He's a talented dancer in all major forms of dances, including classic, hip hop, urban, street style, and many others.
14. Madhuri Dixit
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Madhuri is not only known for her acting but also superb dancing skills and her million-dollar smile. She started dancing at the age of three. Being a trained Kathak dancer, she certainly has a grip and control on her body, but she managed to amaze the audience with much more modern moves and dances.
Her expressions perfectly complement her moves, and the grace she uses to dance makes the silver screen sparkle with all her glamour. Madhuri's best dance performances include Kaahe Cheddhe, Ek do teen, Dhak dhak, Maar daala, and many others. Dance is a spiritual experience for Madhuri, and it has shaped her personality.
15. Fred Astaire
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Fred is considered one of the greatest dancers in film history. Astaire studied dancing from the age of four. Light on his feet, Fred Astaire, revolutionized the movie musical with his elegant and seemingly effortless dance style.
His immensely popular dancing style appeared relaxed, light, effortless, and largely improvised. Unfortunately, Fred is no more as he died in 1987 from pneumonia, at the age of 88. With his passing, the world lost a true dancing legend.
16. Misty Copeland
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Misty Danielle Copeland is an American ballet dancer for American Ballet Theatre, one of the three leading classical ballet companies in the United States. She is the first African American woman to be promoted to the position of principal dancer in the 75-year history of the theatre. She enrolled in ballet classes at the age of 13.
At the age of fifteen, she won first place in the Music Center Spotlight Awards. She is a living legend in the world of ballet dancing. Misty is the author of the bestselling book titled Life in Motion and a children's picture book, Firebird.
17. Yanis Marshall
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Yanis Marshall is a French dancer and choreographer. Yanis Marshall is known for his intricate and insane choreography that involves dancing in 6 inch high heels, all whilst being incredibly fierce. In 2014, he auditioned for Britain's Got Talent with two backup male dancers and became a finalist.
He featured on the French version of Dancing with the Stars as an artistic coach. In addition, he was a choreographer in the Ukraine version of So You Think You Can Dance. He has performed in several countries worldwide, including Mexico, United States, England, Argentina, Canada, Brazil, China, Russia, and France.
18. Michael Flatley
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Michael fell in love with Irish dancing, encouraged by his mother and maternal grandmother, who were both Irish dance champions. He first stepped onto the world stage when he toured with The Chieftains. In 1994 he transformed the face of Irish dance forever with his breath-taking creation of Riverdance.
Michael created the Lord of the Dance, which debuted at the Point Theatre in Dublin in 1996. His name and Lord of the Dance brand have become synonymous with spectacular artistry. He broke the mould of traditional Irish dancing by incorporating upper body movement and creating edgy rhythm patterns that departed from the traditional.
19. Alla Kushnir
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Alla Kushnir was born in the Ukrainian city of Nikolaev. She is a famous choreographer who specializes in oriental dance, and more precisely, in belly dancing. She started dancing at an early age. As a choreographer and dancer, she has won many different prizes and awards. She is a four-time finalist of the World Championship in Moscow.
In addition, she emerged as the winner of the Oriental Bazar belly dance festival in Berlin. Alla has made numerous trips in different parts of Europe and the world. She is a frequent guest on television in various talent search competitions. She is the presenter of the TV program Oriental dances with Alla Kushnir, which airs on MAXXI TV.
20. Sofia Boutella
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Boutella was born in Algeria, where she started studying ballet at the age of five. She relocated to France with her parents when she was 10. In France, she took refuge in dance studios. She quickly added rhythmic gymnastics to her repertoire, competing on France's national team at the age of 16.
She was introduced to hip-hop and soon found herself on stage dancing for famous artists, including Michael Jackson and Madonna. She is famous for the hip-hop and street dance, known as the Nike Girl from Nike Women advertising campaigns.
Frequently asked questions about the best dancer in the world
There are so many questions that people have about the best dancers. Here are some of the questions that you are likely to encounter on this topic.
Who are the top 10 dancers in the world?
The top 10 dancers in the world are Michael Jackson, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Madonna, Shakira, Chris Brown, Joaquin Cortes, Martha Graham, Usher, Prabhu Deva, and Rudolf Nureyev.
Who is the richest dancer in the world?
Michael Flatley tops the list of the wealthiest dancers in the world with a net worth of $288 million. The other richest dancers in the world are Mikhail Baryshnikov ($45 million), Derek Hough ($8 million), Rudolf Nureyev ($7.9 million), JabbaWockeeZ ($5 million), and Karina Smirnoff ($3 million).
Who is the greatest dancer of all time?
Fred Astaire is regarded as the greatest dancer of all time in the film industry. Fred is renowned for his smooth, debonair dancing style. His immensely popular dancing style appeared relaxed, light, effortless, and largely improvised. He is regarded as a pioneer in the serious presentation of dance on film.
Who is the most famous dancer?
Michael Jackson is undoubtedly the most famous dancer in the world. Michael stunned the world with the moonwalk dance move, the backward gliding step he adapted from street dance. His other iconic dance moves are second to none.
Which country has the best dancers in the world?
India is the country with the best dancers in the world. Indian dancers account for the largest percentage of the best dancers in the world. Some of the Indian dancers featured on this list include Allu Arjun, Hrithik Roshan, Madhuri Dixit, Prabhu Deva, and many others.
Who are the best hip hop dancers in the world?
Hip-hop is a collection of urban dances that includes a foundation of breaking, popping, and locking. The list of the best hip hop dancers in the world features names such as Michael Jackson, Ciara, Beyonce, Chris Brown, Beyonce, Les Twins, Jabbawockeez, among others.
Who are the best ice dancers in the world?.
Ice dancing is an aspect of figure skating that uses elements of ballroom dancing. The greatest ice dancers in the world include Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir, Anna Cappellini, Charlie White, Tracy Wilson, Robert McCall, Meryl Davis, Oksana Grishuk, Evgeny Platov, and Marina Anissina.
Who is the best dancer in the world? Other than the above mentioned, the world is yet to witness another dancer that can be a force to reckon with for years. Even as there is no shortage of talent in this field, only a few names keep popping up, and this is because they are or were the best of the best.
Tuko.co.ke recently published an article on the cutest person in the world. Even though the world is full of adorable people, some are a class above others. They are all about looks, body shape, intelligence, and appeal.
It is difficult to tell who is the cutest person in the world because beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. However, the people listed are undeniably the most handsome and beautiful you will ever come across.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
