folk dance, primitive, tribal, or ethnic form of the dance dance [Old High Ger. danson=to drag, stretch], the art of precise, expressive, and graceful human movement, traditionally, but not necessarily, performed in accord with musical accompaniment.
..... Click the link for more information. , sometimes the survival of some ancient ceremony or festival. The term is used also to include characteristic national dances, country dances, and figure dances in costume to folk tunes. Many children's games, such as "London Bridge" and "The Farmer in the Dell," are traditional folk dances. More elaborate examples are the Spanish fandango fandango , ancient Spanish dance, probably of Moorish origin, that came into Europe in the 17th cent. It is in triple time and is danced by a single couple to the accompaniment of castanets, guitar, and songs sung by the dancers.
..... Click the link for more information. , the Bohemian polka polka, ballroom dance for couples in 2/4 time. Originated by Bohemian peasants about 1830 from steps of the schottische and other dances, the polka by 1835 reached the drawing rooms of Prague, from which it spread to the capitals of Europe.
..... Click the link for more information. , the Hungarian czardas, the Irish jig jig, dance of English origin that is performed also in Ireland and Scotland. It is usually a lively dance, performed by one or more persons, with quick and irregular steps. When the jig was introduced to the United States, it was often danced in minstrel shows.
..... Click the link for more information. , the Scottish Highland fling Highland fling, national dance of Highland Scotland. Composed in the duple rhythm of the strathspey, a variety of reel, it is characterized by the Scotch snap (a succession of sixteenth notes alternating with dotted eighths). The "fling" emphasizes a kicking gesture.
..... Click the link for more information. , the Hawaiian hula, and the English morris dance morris dance or morrice dance, rustic dance of the north of England that had its origin in country festivals, such as those of May Day and Whitsunday. Reference to it in English literature is made as early as the 15th cent.
..... Click the link for more information. , sword dance, and Maypole dance. American barn dances, such as the Virginia reel, are largely derived from European sources. Early in the 20th cent. Cecil James Sharp Sharp, Cecil James, 1859–1924, English musician, best known for his researches in English folk music. In 1911 he founded the English Folk Dance Society. In the United States he collected (1914–18) folk songs in the Appalachian Mts.
..... Click the link for more information. , founder of the English Folk Dance Society, made a notable collection of English folk songs and dances. The American Folk Dance Society has done much to preserve the knowledge of old American country dances, and a similar interest has developed in other countries. A popular form of recreation, folk dancing is often taught in schools.

Bibliography

See M. D. Lidster and D. H. Tamburini, Folk Dance Progressions (1965, repr. 1978); A. S. Duggan et al., Folk Dance Library (5 vol., 1948, repr. 1980).

folk dance

Dance that has developed without a choreographer and that reflects the traditional life of the common people of a country or region. The term was coined in the 18th century and is sometimes used to distinguish between dances of the people and those of the aristocracy. Courtly and formal dances of the 16th–20th centuries often developed from folk dances; these include the gavotte, gigue, mazurka, minuet, polka, samba, tango, and waltz. See also country dance; hula; morris dance; square dance; sword dance; tap dance.

folk dance

1. any of various traditional rustic dances often originating from festivals or rituals

2. a piece of music composed for such a dance

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No references found			The winners of Adult Folk Dancers competition were 1st Loughgiel Folk Dancers, Northern Ireland, 2nd Gurman Folk Dance Academy, India, and 3rd Trionysos, Sweden. This place is simply amazing by Daily Post (Liverpool, England) Last year there were 41,000 persons in Estonia who were practicing singing, of whom 39,000 were engaged in choir singing, followed by 18,000 folk dancers. Choir singing is the most popular activity in Estonia, according to ... by The Baltic Times (Riga, Latvia) A GROUP of traditional folk dancers are representing the North East at a European event this weekend. Morris men's new dance by Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England)			Foliation Folic Acid folic acid sodium salt folic-acid-deficiency anemia folie à deux Folies Bergère Folies-Bergère foliferous Foligno foliicolous folimat Folin solution Folin, Otto folio foliobranchiate foliolate Folist folium folium of Descartes Folk architecture folk art Folk Arts folk dance Folk Dance Ensemble of the USSR Folk Dance, Russian folk dancer folk drama Folk Etymology Folk Handicrafts folk high school Folk Legend Folk Medicine folk music Folk Narrator folk psychology folk song Folk Versification, Russian Folk Victorian architecture Folk-Art Museum Folk-Instrument Orchestra Folkestone Folketing folklore Folklore Studies Folkmoot folksonomy Folktale folkways Follett, Mary Parker Follicle follicle cell			Folk Archive Resource North East folk art folk art folk artist folk artist Folk arts Folk arts Folk Arts Center of New England Folk Arts Society of Greenville Folk Association of South Hants folk ballad folk ballad Folk band Folk band Folk blues Folk craft Folk craft Folk craft Folk Cure for Cancer Folk custom Folk custom Folk custom Folk customs Folk customs Folk customs folk dance folk dance Folk Dance Ensemble of the USSR Folk Dance New Zealand Folk Dance, Russian folk dancer folk dancers folk dancers Folk dances Folk dances folk dancing folk dancing Folk Development College Folk drama Folk Education Association of America Folk etymologies Folk etymologies folk etymology folk etymology Folk group Folk group Folk Handicrafts Folk Harp Journal Folk healer Folk healer Folk healer Folk high school Folk I Love Always folk illness folk illness folk illness folk illness folk illnesses Folk in South Yorkshire Folk Legend folk linguistics

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Bibliography

folk dance

folk dance
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