A folk dance is a type of dance that reflects the life of the people of a certain country or region. It is a vernacular, usually recreational, expression of a historical or contemporary culture. Folk dances are not made for public performance or the stage, and are usually held at folk dance gatherings or social functions by people with little or no professional training, often to traditional music. They are strongly about inherited tradition rather than making changes, although like all folk traditions they do change over time. New dancers often learn informally by watching others and/or getting help from others. Folk dances share some or all of the following attributes:
- Dances are usually held at folk dance gatherings or social functions by people with little or no professional training, often to traditional music.
- Dances are not generally designed for public performance or the stage, though they may later be arranged and set for stage performances.
- The way they are done is strongly about inherited tradition rather than making changes.
- New dancers often learn informally by watching others and/or getting help from others.
There are many different styles of folk dance, and various styles of folk dance have been performed all over the world for centuries. Some examples of European folk dances include Polonez (Polish), clogging, English country dance, international folk dance, Irish dance, Maypole dance, Morris dance, Turkish dance, Welsh Morris Dance, and more.
