Do you know what folk dancing is? Folk dancing is a kind of dance. Folk dancing is special because there is not just one kind of folk dancing. There are many kinds of folk dances all around the world. Different regions have their own kind of folk dancing. Many folk dances are a part of the country's traditions. You can see folk dances on different holidays.
Hula dancing started in the Hawaiian islands. The hula dance used to be just for special occasions. The hula dancer wears a grass skirt. The dancer might wear a flower necklace too. That flower necklace is called a lei.
Clogging is another folk dance. The dancers would hit their heels and toes on the floor. This creates a rhythm. Many old clogging shoes had a wooden sole. Soles made out of hard leather were popular too.
Sword dancing began as early as the 15th century in Scotland. The dancer puts two swords on the ground. The swords form an X. The dancer moves around the X with dance steps.
Have you seen a maypole before? You might have seen one at folk festivals. It is a tall pole. It is often decorated with flowers and ribbons. Many people dance around the maypole. Maypole traditions can be seen in many countries.
Fandango is a Spanish dance. It has been around for a long time. Fandango can be traced back to the 1700s. It is a dance for two people. The dance starts slowly and then speeds up. The dancers might follow each other's steps and movements. There are many ways to do this dance.
Ceilidh is a Scottish country dance. You might dance with a partner. You might dance with a group of people. You will see a lot of people swinging each other around.
There are many different types of folk dancing. Some date back to centuries ago. Many of these traditions and folk dances did not stay the same. They evolved over time. There might be some variation in the dance steps. The purpose of the dances may have changed too.
What other folk dances can you think of?