Folk dance
A folk dance is a dance that reflects the life of the people of a certain country or region. Not all ethnic dances are folk dances. For example, ritual dances or dances of ritual origin are not considered to be folk dances. Ritual dances are usually called "religious dances" because of their purpose.
The terms "ethnic" and "traditional" are used when it is required to emphasize the cultural roots of the dance. In this sense, nearly all folk dances are ethnic ones. If some dances, such as polka, cross ethnic boundaries and even cross the boundary between "folk" and "ballroom dance", ethnic differences are often considerable enough to mention.[1]
Dances are usually held at folk dance gatherings or social functions by people with little or no professional training, often to traditional music.
Dances not generally designed for public performance or the stage, though they may later be arranged and set for stage performances.
Execution dominated by an inherited tradition from various international cultures rather than innovation (though folk traditions change over time).
New dancers often learn informally by observing others or receiving help from others.
Folk dances share some or all of the following attributes:
More controversially, some people define folk dancing as dancing for which there is no governing body or dancing for which there are no competitive or professional institutions. The term "folk dance" is sometimes applied to dances of historical importance in European culture and history; typically originating before the 20th century. For other cultures the terms "ethnic dance" or "traditional dance" are sometimes used, although the latter terms may encompass ceremonial dances.
There are a number of modern dances, such as hip hop dance, that evolve spontaneously, but the term "folk dance" is generally not applied to them, and the terms "street dance" or "vernacular dance" are used instead. The term "folk dance" is reserved for dances which are to a significant degree bound by tradition and originated in the times when the distinction existed between the dances of "common folk" and the dances of the modern ballroom dances originated from folk ones.
Ardah
Armenian dance
Assyrian folk dance
Azerbaijani dances
an Assamese dance celebrating the arrival of spring, traditionally the beginning of the Assamese New Year
Bihu
- The national dance of Afghanistan. Also a popular folk dance of Pashtuns tribes of Pakistan including the unique styles of Quetta and Waziristan in Pakistan.
Attan
Belly Dance
a Punjabi harvest dance in Pakistan and India, and a music style that has become popular worldwide.
Bhangra
Circassian dance
Circle dance
Devotional dance from Gujarat danced the world over
Garba Circular
Israeli folk dance
Kurdish dance
Luri dances
- Baluch folk dance in Pakistan.
Lewa (folk dance)
Mazanderani dances
Middle Eastern Dance
(traditional Baloch folk dance in Pakistan)
Chaap
Yangge
Chacarera
Bailecito
Zamba
Gato
Cueca
Chamamé
Malambo
Kizomba
Modern Dance
Olivia Hussey
Cheng Xiao
The Mayyas
Zhang Ziyi
Körtánc - Hungarian (csango) folk dance
Kyushtdepdi
Mtiuluri
List of ethnic, regional, and folk dances sorted by origin
International folk dance
a list of general dance topics
Dance basic topics
contemporary folk dance practised across Europe
Balfolk
authority on American folk dance
Elizabeth Burchinal
Lytle, Tiffany (2023-04-13). . Conversations Across the Field of Dance Studies. 42 (0). doi:10.3998/conversations.3657. ISSN 2834-6823.
"Is My Body My Own?"
Folk Dance Hawaii
(in German)