Editing Folk dance

{{short description|Dance that reflects the life of the people of a certain region}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2021}}
[[File:Dansa tradicional valenciana - Museu Valencià d'Etnologia.jpg|thumb|300px|Traditional [[Valencia]]n dances.]]

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 dance]]s 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Folk dance {{!}} Definition, Music, History, Types, & Facts {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/art/folk-dance |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Background==
{{Unsourced section|date=April 2025}}[[File:Traditional dancers and performance during the Pulljay festivities in Tarabuco.ogv|thumb|right|Traditional dancers and performance during the Pulljay festivities in Tarabuco.]]
Folk dances share some or all of the following attributes:{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

*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.
More controversially, some people define folk dancing as dancing for which there is no governing body or dancing for which there are no [[Competition|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 dance]]s.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

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.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} 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.

== Europe ==
{{Unsourced section|date=April 2025}}[[File:Tarantella (unknown date), by Alexandre-Thomas Francia.jpg|thumb|Italians dancing the ''[[tarantella]].'']]
[[File:2954-Kud Doka Paulovic de Servia no Festival Folclorico da Coruña. (8202865217).jpg|thumb|Serbian folk group dancing at a festival.]]
[[File:Rapper Sword Dancers - Sheffield Steel.jpg|thumb|right|Rapper Sword Dancers - Sheffield Steel.]]
[[File:Turkey folk dance.jpg|thumb|right|Turkey folk dance.]]
[[File:Armenian dancers. HlushenkovFolkFest in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine. Photo 71.jpg|thumb|right|Armenian dancers. HlushenkovFolkFest in [[Khmelnytskyi|Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine]].]]
Varieties of European folk dances include:
{{Div col|colwidth=10em}}
*[[Austrian folk dance]]
*[[Ball de bastons]]
*[[Ballet]]
*[[Barn dance]]
*[[Bulgarian dances]]
**[[Pravo|Pravo horo]]
**[[Paidushko horo]]
**[[Gankino horo]]
**[[Daychovo horo]]
*[[Circle dance]]
*[[Yankee Dutch crossing|Dutch crossing]]
*[[English country dance]]
*[[Fandango]]
*[[Flamenco]] 
*[[Freilekhs]]
*[[Georgian dance]]
*[[Greek dances]]
*[[Hora (dance)|Hora]]
*[[International folk dance]]
* [[Irish dance]]
** [[Ceili dance]]
* [[Italian folk dance]]
**[[Tarantella]]
**[[Calabrian Tarantella]]
**[[Pizzica]]
**[[Monferrina]]
**[[Ballu tundu]]
*[[Jenkka]]
*[[Jota (music)|Jota]]
*[[Kolo (dance)|Kolo]]
*[[Ländler]]
*[[Maypole dance]]
*[[Morris dance]]
**[[Nantgarw tradition|Welsh Morris dance]]
*[[Polka]]
*[[Polish folk dances]]
**[[Polonaise (dance)|Polonaise]]
**[[Oberek]]
**[[Krakowiak]]
**[[Mazurka]]
**[[Kujawiak]]
*[[Russian folk dance]]
*[[Turkish dance]]
*[[Ukrainian dance]]
*[[Verbuňk]]
*Nordic [[Polska (dance)|polska]] dance
*[[Schuhplattler]]
*[[Square dance]]
*[[Sword dance]]
*[[Weapon dance]]
*[[Zwiefacher]]
{{div col end}}

[[Sword dance]]s include [[Long Sword dance|long sword dances]] and [[Rapper dance|rapper dancing]]. Some [[choreographed]] dances such as [[contra dance]], [[Scottish highland dance]], [[Scottish country dance]], and [[modern western square dance]], are called folk dances, though this is not true in the strictest sense. [[Country dance]] overlaps with contemporary folk dance and ballroom dance. Most country dances and ballroom dances originated from folk dances, with gradual refinement over the years.

People familiar with folk dancing can often determine what country a dance is from even if they have not seen that particular dance before. Some countries' dances have features that are unique to that country, although neighboring countries sometimes have similar features.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}} For example, the [[Germany|German]] and [[Austria]]n [[Schuhplattler|schuhplattling dance]] consists of slapping the body and shoes in a fixed pattern, a feature that few other countries' dances have.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Folk dances sometimes evolved long before current political boundaries, so that certain dances are shared by several countries.  For example, some [[Serbian dances|Serbian]], [[Bulgarian dances|Bulgarian]], and [[Croatian dances]] share the same or similar dances, and sometimes even use the same name and music for those dances.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

[[International folk dance]] groups exist in cities and college campuses in many countries, in which dancers learn folk dances from many cultures for recreation.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

[[Balfolk]] events are [[social dance]] events with live music in Western and Central Europe, originating in the folk revival of the 1970s and becoming more popular since about 2000, where popular European partner dances from the end of the 19th century such as the [[schottische]], [[polka]], [[mazurka]] and [[waltz]] are danced, with additionally other European folk dances, mainly from [[France]], but also from [[Sweden]], [[Spain]] and other countries.

==Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia==
* [[Ardah]]
* [[Armenian dance]]
* [[Assyrian folk dance]]
* [[Azerbaijani dances]]
* [[Bihu dance|Bihu]], an [[Assam]]ese dance celebrating the arrival of spring, traditionally the beginning of the Assamese New Year
* [[Attan]] - 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]].
* [[Belly Dance]]
* [[Bhangra (dance)|Bhangra]], a [[Punjabis|Punjabi]] harvest dance in Pakistan and India, and a music style that has become popular worldwide.
* [[Chitrali Dance]] - [[Chitral]], Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan.
* [[Circassian dance]]
* [[Circle dance]]
* [[Dabke]], a folk dance of the [[Levant]]
* [[Domkach]], folk dance of [[Bihar]] and [[Jharkhand]], India
* [[Garba (dance)|Garba Circular]] Devotional dance from Gujarat danced the world over 
* [[Israeli folk dance]]
* [[Kalbelia]] is one of the most sensuous dance forms of [[Rajasthan]], performed by the kalbelia tribe
* [[Khattak Dance]] - [[Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa]] in Pakistan.
* [[Khigga]], a common folk dance among [[Assyrian people]]
* [[Kurdish dance]]
* [[Luri dances]]
* [[Lewa (folk dance)]] - Baluch folk dance in Pakistan.
* [[Mazanderani dances]]
* [[Middle Eastern Dance]]
* [[Chaap]] (traditional Baloch folk dance in Pakistan)
various dances such as tamang selo and many others
* [[Thabal chongba]]
* Kyushtdepdi - The national dance of [[Turkmenistan]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/_eng/?id=530|title=Golden age|last=V@DIM|website=www.turkmenistan.gov.tm}}</ref>
* [[Yowlah]]

===India===
{{main list|List of Indian folk dances}}
{{cmn|
* [[Bhagavata Mel]]
* [[Bhangra (dance)|Bhangra]]
* [[Chholiya]]
* [[Chhau dance]]
* [[Fugdi]]
* [[Garba (dance)|Garba]]
* [[Gaudiya Nritya]]
* [[Giddha]]
* [[Kalbelia]]
* [[Kambara dance|Kambara]]
* [[Lavani]]
* [[Ottan Thullal]]
* [[Rajasthan]]i
* [[Sattriya]]
* [[Tippani]]
* [[Yakshagana]]
}}

==East and Southeast Asia==
===China===
{{Main|Dance in China#Traditional dances}}
*[[Yangge]]

===Cambodia===
{{Main|Dance in Cambodia#Folk dance}}
[[File:2016 Phnom Penh, Tradycyjny Kambodżański Pokaz Tańca (079).jpg|thumb|right|Cambodian [[Peacock dance]].]]
*[[Romvong]]
*[[Rom kbach]]
*[[Robam Neary Chea Chuor]]{{sfn | Lytle | 2023 | p=}}
*[[Peacock Dance]]
*[[Chhayam]]
*Cambodian Coconut Dance
*Cambodian Fish Dance
*[[Trot dance]]

===Indonesia===
[[File:2011-06-05 TTF 46.jpg|thumb|right|[[Javanese dance]]r performing ''[[Srimpi]]'' dance in [[Java]], Indonesia.]]
{{Main|Dance in Indonesia#Traditions}}
* [[Saman (dance)|Saman]]

===Japan===
{{Main|Japanese traditional dance}}
*[[Bon dance]]
*[[Buyō]], typical dance of the Japanese [[geisha]]s or dance artists
*[[Rimse (Ainu dance)|Rimse]] ([[Ainu people]])
*[[Kachāshī]] ([[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]])

===Korea===
{{Main|Korean dance#Folk dance}}
*[[Nongak]]

===Malaysia===
{{Main|Dance in Malaysia#Malay Folk Dances}}
*[[Zapin]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ywj.gov.my/tarian-zapin/ |title=Tarian Zapin – Yayasan Warisan Johor<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2017-05-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916043941/http://www.ywj.gov.my/tarian-zapin/ |archive-date=2018-09-16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Nepal===
{{Main|Dance in Nepal}}
*[[Tamang Selo]] dance
*[[Jhaure]] dance
*[[Lakhey nach]] dance
*[[Newar people|Newari]] dance
*[[Manjushree]] dance
*[[Kaura (dance)|Kaura]] dance
*[[Majhi nach]] dance
*[[Raute people|Raute]] dance
*[[Chhokara]] dance
*[[Khyali]] dance
*[[Maruni]] dance
*[[Deuda (genre)|Deuda]] dance
*[[Chaulo]] dance
*[[Dhan Nach]] dance
*[[Madikhole]] dance
*[[Phagu (dance)]]
*[[Maruni#History|Sorathi]]
*[[Sakela]] (Chandi)
*[[Singaru]]
*[[Tarbare]]
*[[Bajrayogini]] dance
*[[Charitra]] dance
*[[List of Indian folk dances#Bihar|Jat-jatin]]
*[[Charya]] dance
*[[Hanuman]] dance

===Philippines===
{{see|Philippine dance}}

[[File:Folklore of the popular heritage of the State of the Philippines 16.jpg|thumb|''[[Singkil]]'', traditional folk dance of the ''[[Maranao people]]'' of the Philippines depicting parts of the epic poem, ''[[Darangen]]''.]]

[[File:Tinikling.jpg|thumb|Members from the Philippine Cultural Dancers group perform ''tinikling'' during the 2007 Asian Pacific Heritage Month celebration at the Kadena Air Base, Japan.]]

*[[Balse Marikina]]
*[[Benjan]]
*[[Binasuan]]
*[[Cariñosa]]
*[[Habañera Botoleña]]
*[[Itik-itik]]
*[[Kalesa]]
*[[Kuntao Silat Amil Bangsa]]
*[[Kuntaw]]
*[[Kuratsa]]
*[[La Jota Moncadena]]
*[[Lerion (dance form)|Lerion]]
*[[Magkasuyo]]
*[[Maglalatik]]
*[[Pagdiwata]]
*[[Pandanggo]]
*[[Pangalay]]
*[[Paraguanen]]
*[[Pista (dance)|Pista]]
*[[Sagayan]]
*[[Sayaw sa Bangko]]
*[[Singkil]]
*[[Subli]]
*[[Tiklos]]
*[[Tinikling]]

===Taiwan===
*[[Bamboo]] dance ([[Amis people]])

== South America ==
{{Unsourced section|date=April 2025}}

=== Argentina ===
*[[Chacarera]]
*Bailecito
*[[Zamba (artform)|Zamba]]
*[[Gato (artform)|Gato]]
*[[Cueca]]
*[[Chamamé]]
*[[Malambo (dance)|Malambo]]

=== Brazil ===
*[[Samba (Brazilian dance)|Samba]]

=== Peru ===
*[[Marinera]]

=== Venezuela ===
*[[Gaita zuliana|Gaita Zuliana]]
* [[Joropo#Dancing|Joropo]]

== Africa ==
{{Unsourced section|date=April 2025}}

=== Angola ===

* [[Kizomba]]

=== Cameroon ===

* [[Ambasse bey]]

* [[Assiko]]
* [[Bikutsi]]

=== Ghana ===

* [[Adowa dance|Adowa]]
* [[Agbadza]]
* [[Agbekor]] (Atamga)

* [[Kpanlogo]]
* Bobobo
* [[Alkayida]]

=== Niger ===

* [[Bitti Harey]]

== North America ==
{{Unsourced section|date=April 2025}}

=== United States ===
* [[Clogging]]
* [[Contra dance|Contra dance form]]
* [[Country–western dance]]
* [[Modern Dance|Modern dance]]
* [[Modern Western square dance]]
* [[Traditional square dance]]
* [[Zydeco (dance)]]

=== Mexico ===
*[[Baile Folklorico]] ([[Folk dance of Mexico|Mexico]] and [[Central America]])
*Contradance
*Square Dance

=== Dominican Republic ===
*[[Merengue (dance)|Merengue]]
*[[Bachata (dance)|Bachata]]

== Oceania ==
{{Unsourced section|date=April 2025}}
* [[Hula]] ([[Hawaii]])
* [[Haka]] ([[New Zealand]])

==Notable people==
{{Unsourced section|date=April 2025}}
* [[Olivia Hussey]]
* [[Cheng Xiao]]
* [[The Mayyas]]
* [[Zhang Ziyi]]

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Csángó körtánc.ogv|Körtánc - Hungarian (csango) folk dance.
File:Independence Day Parade - Flickr - Kerri-Jo (242).jpg|Kyushtdepdi.
File:Assyriankhigga.jpg|[[Assyrian people|Assyrians]] dancing [[khigga]].
File:Mtiuluri.jpg|Mtiuluri.
File:Bastoners terrassa 13.jpg|A [[Ball de bastons]] stick dance from [[Catalonia]].
File:Cyprus The Dance with glasses OM107.JPG|[[Cyprus]] folk dance with glasses in [[Paphos]].
File:Tanec folk ensemble Macedonia 3.jpg|Macedonian female folk dance, [[Tresenica]], performed by [[Tanec]].
File:"A Goral Wedding" at Dom Ludowy Theatre - bride and groom dancing.jpg|Podhale [[Gorals]] dancing.
File:Russian dancer at the Imagine Cup.jpg|Traditional [[Russian folk dances|Russian squat dancing]]. 
</gallery>

==See also==
{{Wiktionary}}
* [[List of ethnic, regional, and folk dances sorted by origin]]
* [[International folk dance]]
* [[Dance basic topics]], a list of general dance topics
* [[Balfolk]], contemporary folk dance practised across Europe

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Sources ==
* {{cite journal | last=Lytle | first=Tiffany | title=Is My Body My Own? | journal=Conversations Across the Field of Dance Studies | volume=42 | issue=0 | date=2023-04-13 | issn=2834-6823 | doi=10.3998/conversations.3657 | url = https://journals.publishing.umich.edu/conversations/article/id/3657/| doi-access=free }}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Folk dance}}
*[http://filipinodance.com/ Folk Dance Hawaii]
*[http://www.dancilla.com/wiki/index.php/Dancilla Dancilla] {{in lang|de}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080707052434/http://www.folkr.org/ Folklore People Community]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100314153918/http://www.folkdance.tk/ Folk Dance]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080724174131/http://www.folklorefestivals.com/eng/default.aspx Folklore Festivals]
*[http://www.makfolk.com.mk Folklore Festivals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218182419/http://makfolk.com.mk/ |date=2014-12-18 }}
*[http://www.sifd.org/ Society for International Folk Dancing]
*[https://www.karsten.evers.de/franztanz/ ''French Folk Dances, Volume 1 to 3'', by Karsten Evers and Ulrike Frydrych, Hildesheim and Eiterfeld, 1982, 1983 and 1987. Dance descriptions (in German), sheet music and audios.]{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Dance}}
{{Street dance}}
{{Circle dance}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Folk dance| ]]
[[Category:Social dance]]