Pairing Sparkling Wine with Dancing

What’s your favourite sparkling wine and dance pairing?

Below are some of the best types of sparkling wines to enjoy while watching or taking part in these type of dance styles.

Ballet

Ballet is a classical dance form characterised by precise and graceful movements, emphasising strength and flexibility through choreography. Some very famous ballerinas include: Anna Pavlova, Margot Fonteyn, and Rudolf Nureyev. air with Champagne, this classic wine is rich and complex in flavours and aromas, smooth, creamy and persistent, which complements the classical ballet dancing.

Ballroom

Ballroom dance is a partner dance genre that includes waltz, foxtrot, tango, and cha-cha, characterised by elegant and coordinated movements between dance partners. Television shows like ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ have increased the popularity of ballroom dancing by showcasing celebrities competing in ballroom and Latin dance routines alongside professional dancers. Pair with English sparkling wine, which is fruity, crisp and refreshing with notes of apple, pear and brioche, the complex nature of the wine will complement the elegance of this style of dancing.

Jazz

Jazz dancing has form, style, rhythm, and energy, it is exciting and energetic to watch, you will often see huge jumps and leaps, fast turns and spins. Jack Cole was known as ‘the Father of Theatrical Jazz Dance’ and Bob Fosse is arguably the most influential figure in the field of jazz dance in the twentieth century. Pair with Franciacorta, a sparkling wine from Italy, with complex flavours that include notes of fruit, flowers, bread, and yeast, this will complement the complex style of dancing.

Salsa

Salsa is one of the most popular types of Latin dance that is practiced worldwide and is typically danced with a partner. Pair with Rosé Champagne, it’s pretty, elegant and the ultimate sensual, romantic wine.

Flamenco

Flamenco dance is based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain. The emphasis is on lightning-fast footwork performed with absolute precision while dancing using props such as castanets, canes, shawls and fans. Carmen Amaya was one of the most famous and passionate flamenco dancers of her generation. Pair with a classic Spanish sparkling wine, Cava, which has crisp, zesty citrus flavours and bright acidity to pair with the precision of Flamenco dancing.

Swing

Swing dance is a group of partner dances known for its energetic and upbeat nature. The most well know and popular swing dance is the Lindy Hop, but there are several others like the Charleston, the Jive and the Jitterbug. Pair with Lambrusco, a sparkling red wine from Italy, it’s fun and fruity with a whole lot of character that will pair well with the fun and upbeat dancing.

Tap

Tap dancing focuses on creating rhythm and sound through the use of tap shoes. Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers were widely known for their tap dancing. James Devine is officially certified by the Guinness World Records as ‘The Fastest Dancer in the World’ measuring 38 taps per second. Pair with Californian sparkling wine, which is often crisp, lively, and fruit-forward and will complement the lively tap dancing.

Irish

Irish dance is a traditional dance form characterised by rapid leg and intricate foot movements while having a straight upper body. Michael Flatley is the most well-known Irish dancer and is credited with reinventing traditional Irish dance by incorporating new rhythms, syncopation, and upper body movements, which were previously absent from the dance. He created and performed in Irish dance shows Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. Flatley formerly held the Guinness World Record for tap dancing 35 times per second and his feet were at one time insured for $57.6 million. Pair with Canadian Sparkling Ice Wine with its strong notes of citrus, honey, stone fruit and tropical fruit, this wine will complement this strong style of dance.

Hip-Hop

Hip-hop dance is a dynamic and energetic street dance style that includes breaking, popping, locking, and other urban dance forms. Michael Jackson was considered a hip-hop dancer, although his dance style was also characterised by his ability to seamlessly fuse different dance forms. He borrowed from jazz, hip-hop, and pop, blending them into a style that was unmistakably his own. Pair with New Zealand sparkling wine renowned for its nutty, biscuity aromas, balanced with fresh acidity and fruit this will complement this energetic style of dance.

Contemporary

Contemporary dance is a modern and expressive dance form that incorporates elements from various styles, allowing for creative exploration and individual interpretation. Many credit Merce Cunningham with formally conceptualising Contemporary Dance, earning him the reputation as the ‘Father of Contemporary Dance’. Pair with Argentinian sparkling wine, which is fruity, vibrant and refreshing, complementing the modern style of dance.