Western dance The history of Western dance from ancient times to the present day includes the development of ballet, the waltz, and various types of modern dances. The people of the West have a history of dance characterized by great diversity and rapid change, whereas most dancers of the East repeated highly refined forms of movement that have remained virtually unchanged for centuries, Western dancers show a constant readiness, even eagerness, to accept new vehicles for their dancing. From the earliest records, it appears that Western dance has always embraced an enormous variety of communal, ritual and social dances enjoyed by different levels of society.