Traditional dance, also known as folk dance, is a local dancing tradition that reflects the life of the people of a certain country or region. It is often strongly connected with local musical forms and/or local beliefs. Traditional dances have their roots in humanitys prehistory and have evolved and persisted over the subsequent millennia. They 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. Traditional 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.
- Traditional dances are generally more of a social activity rather than competitive, but they are normally choreographed.
- Depending on the dance type itself, traditional dancing can be either partnered or solo, and are mainly danced in formation.
Examples of traditional dances include Morris Dancing, Sword Dancing, Mumming, and Hodening subforms. The character of Morris Dancing is essentially pagan, with a heavy focus on themes of rebirth, springtime, and animalism. Dancing types similar to Morris are present throughout continental Europe, manifesting as subsets of the ball de bastons dance Western Europe (especially Spain and Portugal) .
