What is Folk Dance

In any of your trips to the Orient or the Dark continent, you will find an interesting array of people. Stop in for some conversation and you will be delighted to find that they can speak and behave like the Westerners. However, if you are trying to know more about their culture and customs, there is no better way than to attend their rural and traditional rituals and customary practices. You can see how such people like to celebrate certain events with pomp and show. They would put on fairs and feasts. However, they would also go in for some entertaining and lively folk dances. These performances would be the highlight of your journey.

Folk dance could be the word for any dance that prizes customs more than choreographed movements. Folk dance is usually performed by the women of the community on auspicious or festive days. However, sometimes, even the men may join in the celebrations. The folk dances are associated with a mood of general and riotous celebration and rejoice. However, they may be merely ritualistic for some communities as well.

What are the essential characteristics of any folk dance? One is that, as I said, it is a celebration of sorts. The different religions, races and communities celebrate festivals and occasions according to their traditions. On these days, the men and women would wear their traditional outfits and clothes. Then, they would dance to the tune of their folk music. Sometimes, the festivals are big and pompous. On other occasions, the significance is deeper but hidden. In places like India, the folk dances are organized by many communities to celebrate harvests of crops and food grains. These folk dances are a form of rejoice for such people, who till the land.

The folk dances are usually accompanied with some music. The music could be composed with taps of feet, clapping hands, chorus of voices and other such miscellaneous sounds. The dancers usually perform against these sounds. In many folk dances, the music is also composes with the aid of basic and rustic musical instruments. In some forms of folk dance, the music would comprise of ballads and hymns. These are sung by some of the dancers and the remaining dance to the changes of rhythm in these folk songs and ballads. Such dances can also be seen in many European countries and regions, as well as in Asian and South American countries.

In many countries and regions, the folk dances would also be accompanied with the use of accessories and props. For instance, the sword dances are performed by almost every major community in the world. These dances would involve the use of the swords and such weapons. The folk dances have become a popular means of entertainment as well. Many of the musicians working for films and theatre have taken inspiration from the traditional folk dance forms. Ever since then, many songs have been composed and staged in a manner similar to that of the folk songs of some communities and races.