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FOLK DANCEIF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN FOLK DANCE VIDEOS CLICK HERE They are traditionally performed during social events by people with little or no professional training. Most ballroom choreography originated from folk dances, with gradual refinement over the years. Both forms sometimes evolved before current political boundaries, so that some are common to several countries. The term itself can be applied to dances of historical European culture, which typically originated before the twentieth century. For other cultures the terms ethnic or traditional are sometimes used. However, not all ethnic dances are folk dances for example Sacred Dance would be excluded. Different forms come into existence with social and economic changes which result in a clearly defined hierarchical structure in society. There are the ruling classes and the common folk. The ruling classes might well join in on occasion but it was understood by all that this was not "their" form of dance. However, court and folk forms have always mutually influenced each other.
Folk Dance takes many spatial forms:- the circle, the spiral, the meander, the double circle and the chain to name some of them. The participants nearly always touch one another thus strongly linking everyone into the dance. They hold hands, place their hands on the shoulders or hips of their neighbors or they link arms. Circular dances most commonly move in a clockwise direction. The other common form of starting position is for those taking part to form two or more rows facing one another. Couple dances also exist. Almost all these are "open", the participants either have no direct contact with each other or they may touch each other at the most with one hand or link by holding a corner of a scarf or handkerchief. In general mixed dance is not found in basic cultures and is not common in tribal cultures that are predominately masculine. Modern street forms such as Hip Hop are not generally considered to be folk dances because these artistic expressions are living and evolving forms, while folk forms are to a large degree bound by tradition. Ballroom depending on the particular type, can be considered as Folk Dance. England does not have an unbroken tradition. This form had almost completely died out before its revival. Victorian times saw an emphasis on couple dances adopted from the continent, for example the waltz and the polka. This went hand in hand with a strong revival of interest in traditional English Folk Dance, song and music. Some remnants linger which are known to almost everyone but are unrecognizable as Folk Dance such as the Conga and the Hokey Cokey. These would have originally been performed by medieval carollers. The Morris Dance was revived in 1899. Since the fifteenth century it has been characterized by a group, usually of six men with a fool, a boy dressed as a woman - Mayde Maryan - and another man carrying the figure of a horse slung around his hips. All those taking part wear costumes decorated with numerous bells.The men often carry stout sticks. Blacking of the face is also common. Musical accompaniment is a flute and a small drum or bagpipe. Nowadays there might be a violin or an accordian. The steps consist of much stamping, leaping and turning both in lines and in circles. Scotland has a very rich tradition of Folk Dance both at home and anywhere Scots have settled or gone to work. Scottish Country dancing is a social form involving groups of mixed couples of dancers tracing progressive patterns according to a predetermined choreography. Strictly speaking this is not Folk Dance.Scotland is also well- known for Highland Dancing. This is a style of fiery athletic solo performance which evolved into its current form during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the context of competitions at Highland Games. It is typically accompanied by bagpipe music. A jig is a type of dance as well as the accompanying music. It is popular in both Ireland and Scotland. It is peformed solo or sometimes by two people together. Just like the jig the Reel is both a dance and the name of the music. It is believed to have originated in Ireland. The movements are very rhythmic. The steps are simple but must be danced fast. Irish immigrants were responsible for taking the Reel to Canada. The Ceilidh tradition is shared by both Scotland and Ireland and is now known and appreciated worldwide. Originally the Ceilidh was to help young people in finding a marriage partner. It is performed to fiddle, flute, tin whistle, accordion and in more recent times to drums and electric bass guitar. The music is cheerful and lively and dancers have to know the basic steps. Half are couple dances performed in a ring. They are named after famous battles and events and others after items of daily rural life. Performances take place at Wakes before the burial of the deceased. Step dancing is also performed at Ceilidhs. This is a show form performed only by the really talented. This style was highlighted in the 1990s by "River Dance" and subsequent shows. Folk Dance in Wales has had a difficult time . The non-conformist sects in the eighteenth and nineteenth century brought a very unsympathetic attitude towards dance. The chapels considered the Welsh folk arts and customs as ones that were very sinful and not in keeping with chapel teaching. It was only in 1949 that the Welsh Folk Dance Society was formed. I do not feel that at the moment one can speak of Folk Dance in Africa. The social stratification and its distinctions that leads to Folk Dance hardly exist. It is still a living tradition which everyone is familiar with and participates in. Increasing urbanization and western education in Africa and interest in other parts of the world has led to the setting up of dance schools and companies. The younger generation are citizens of the world in instant contact with most areas of it. They may or may not feel that traditional forms of expression are an essential part of their lives. Instructors are not necessarily first class performers themselves. I have seen African companies where the dances had been so weakened in spirit that they were mere shadows of themselves. There is also the problem of presentation on a stage for an audience. Obviously it is not possible to cover the whole world. So I have made a selection from the many geographical areas in the world.In the United States of America I would like to mention a few dances brought by the settlers from Europe. This is not to devalue the extremely rich Native American heritage. I just do not feel that the dances fall under our heading. North America is known world-wide for its Square Dances. Four couples begin and end each sequence in a square formation, with one couple each side of a square. The dance was first described in seventeenth century England. It has become associated with the USA due to it historic development in that country. The various steps are based in traditional folk and social dances of the various people who migrated to the USA. Some of these traditional forms included Morris, English Country Dance and the Quadrille. A "Caller" announces the steps to be performed. Barn Dances as they are known in England still take place and are well-attended events. The Polynesian population of Hawaii have an old-style hula called Kahiko. This predates european contact. The Hula is unique to the Hawaiian islands. The Cajun population dance the Troika. It originated in Russia where a man dances with two women. The dancers imitate the prancing of horses pulling a sled or carriage. Spain has a very rich Folk Dance tradition. In a number of large towns the tradition still exists of dancing in the main town square as a regular Sunday morning event. Anyone is welcome to join the dance and to be part of the group. Fellowship is offered to all taking part and this is the essential heart of Folk Dance. The Fandango is one of the oldest popular dances in Spain. It is famous for its castenets, snapping fingers and stamping feet. There is a sudden pause in the music toward the end of each figure when the dancers stand rigid in the attitude caught when the music stopped. They only move again when the music is resumed. The Farruca is a spanish gypsy dance for men. It features much heel work, fast double turns and falls. It is a very exciting dance to watch. Sevillanas is an extremely popular and colorful festive Folk Dance from Seville. Sevillanas consists of six parts known as coplas. This dance is peformed by couples at fairs and pilgrimages. Zambra is a spanish flamenco dance of moorish origin performed by gypsy women. Gypsies and Flamenco seem to go hand in hand as does virtuoso guitar playing. Folk Dance in Greenland originally was inspired by Dutch and Scottish reels. But these influences have led to a unique Folk Dance tradition. German Folk Dance is often based on movements associated with occupational activities of earlier time. The "Shustertanz" is a good example as shoemakers originally performed this dance. The "Schuhplatter" is a dance where the men perform complex jumps and slap their thighs and boots in time with the music. The women twirl showing off their petticoats and bloomers. The dance is accompanied by an accordion.I studied in Munich in the '60s and this and many other dances were still genuine Folk Dance. It was not at all unusual to see country people wearing traditional outfits as everyday wear. I have seen the cows being brought down from the summer alpine pastures beautifully decorated with ribbons and bells. I also witnessed a farmer sowing wheat by the age old method of tossing handfuls of seeds onto the soil from a sack draped across his chest. All that now probably belongs to the past. Other dances are Holzhackerbaum (woodcutters dance) Mulradl (millers wheel) and Hochzeitstanz (wedding dance). The Middle East has a vibrant and spectacular Folk Dance heritage. Dance features at all life's great milestones. Birth, marriage and death are only some of them. An example of a Folk Dance style spreading worldwide is Bhangra. Bhangra is a lively form of music and dance that originated in the Punjab region of SE Asia.It began as part of harvest festival celebrations. Eventually it became a part of such diverse occasions as weddings and New Year celebrations. During the last thirty years it has enjoyed a surge in popularity worldwide both in traditional form and as a fusion with genres such as hip-hop, house and reggae. The world has such an incredibly rich Folk Dance tradition which we should foster as a living , evolving treasure. We should also fully document what we have now. HELP YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD THROUGH INSPIRATIONAL DANCE - is an instantly downloadable e-book written by an experienced Dance Movement Therapist. She aims to encourage the parents of Children with Special Needs to act as Dance Movement Therapists to their children. To read free extracts of "Dance to Health - Help Your Special Needs Child Through Inspirational Dance"CLICK HERE 
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