History_of_Folk

The Folk dance is a form of dance created specifically by a group of people from an area to signify their traditional life of their people. Folk dances are most of the time done in groups that consist of at least 4 people following movement from the leader of the dance. The two main formations in which this dance is done is either in a circle or a straight line. It involves people of all ages both young and old. Folk dances are generally danced to the traditional music that comes from the region or nation of the people. Even children’s games are created from folk dances such as "London Bridge" and "The Farmer in the Dell," are traditional folk dances. More elaborate examples are the Spanish fandango, the Bohemian polka , the Hungarian czardas, the Irish jig , the Scottish Highland fling , the Hawaiian hula, and the English Morris dance , sword dance, and Maypole dance. Folk dancing has not come from a specific nation or place, it has evolved through national ceremonies and celebrations, religious dances or from rituals. One of the most popular places that people find a folk dance is at traditional weddings where it is a must ethnical tradition for most races. A popular form of recreation, folk dancing is frequently taught in schools. Originally when folk dances were done, they were done for either tradition or religious beliefs. Today, fold dancers have an audience to dance and is a widely known way of entertainment to hotels and resorts. People familiar with folk dancing can often tell what country a dance is from even if they have not seen that specific dance before. Some countries' dances have features that are unique to that country, although neighbouring countries sometimes have similar features. For example, the German and Austrian schuhplattling dance consists of slapping the body and shoes in a fixed pattern, a feature that few other countries' dances have. Folk dances sometimes evolved long before current political boundaries, so that certain dances are shared by several countries. For example, some Serbian, Bulgarian, and Croatian dances share the same or similar dances, and sometimes even use the same name and music for those dances.