From classic folk dance staples to hidden gems. Introducing recommended tracks!
Folk dancing, a familiar sight at school events and recreational activities.There are many nostalgic tunes that make your body start moving the moment the music begins!When it comes to folk dance songs, there’s an incredible variety—from timeless standards everyone has danced to at least once, to pieces that let you enjoy traditional rhythms from around the world.You might have suddenly wondered, “What was the name of that song again?”In this article, we’ll present a broad list of folk dance tracks.Whether you’re unsure what to pick for an event or searching for a song filled with memories, we hope you’ll find this helpful!
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From folk dance classics to hidden gems. Introducing recommended songs! (21–30)
Hab lanu yain
In this Israeli dance, the title “Hava Nagila” means “Let us have wine.” Even from the title, you can feel a cheerful atmosphere.
The movements are lively and up-tempo, so you might break a sweat by the time you finish dancing.
HinematovMoshe Jacobson
It’s a dance that originated in Israel, known for a modern dance-pop style track sung with the innocent yet beautiful voices of the Miami Boys Choir.
It’s also known for directly quoting a verse from the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament as its lyrics.
From classic folk dance tunes to hidden gems. Introducing recommended tracks! (31–40)
La Bamba
This song became famous as the theme song for the film “La Bamba,” so I think many of you have heard it.
Originally, it was a folk dance that had long been performed in Mexico’s Veracruz region.
At weddings, couples would dance using a red ribbon and work together to tie the ribbon with their feet.
You could say it was their first cooperative task as a married couple.
Because of this, Japanese textbooks introduce it under the title “Ribbon Dance.”
Bamboo Dance
This dance is a folk dance using bamboo found in countries like the Philippines and Thailand.
Dancers move to a triple-meter rhythm, skillfully stepping between two long bamboo poles as they open and close.
The bamboo strikes like percussion, adding excitement to the dance.
There is no song that must be played; any piece in triple meter will do.
In Japan, “Iruka wa Zambraco” has come to serve as the de facto theme song.
wooden shoes
Lithuania’s “Wooden Shoes,” as the title suggests, refers to the charming wooden shoes people in Lithuania would wear when they danced, enjoying the sound of the clogs as they moved.
While wooden shoes might be hard to come by, the tune makes you want to dance with a lively, rhythmic spring in your step.
The original melody comes from the Lithuanian folk song “Krumpakojis,” but to my ear it somewhat resembles the Japanese children’s song “Te o Tatakimashō” (“Let’s Clap Our Hands”).
It’s a melody that feels familiar and accessible to Japanese listeners.
Try searching for it together—it can serve as a helpful reference for the dance as well.
Oslo Waltz
The “Oslo Waltz” is a piece from the UK and Norway, named after Oslo, the capital of Norway.
Overseas, it’s a popular tune often danced at the end of parties, with various styles such as dancing in a circle or stepping while you dance.
Its gentle tempo makes it suitable even for those who’ve never tried folk dance or for students, so it’s recommended as the final number after a few dances.
Instructions for the dance are included on the DVD “School Folk Dance: Junior High and High School Edition,” produced by the Japan Folk Dance Federation (Public Interest Incorporated Association), so please refer to that as well.
Sicilian Tarantella
This piece is a dance from the Italian island of Sicily.
Across Italy, there are intense dances said to be performed to drive out the poison after being bitten by the tarantula, and they are all called “tarantella,” but the music and choreography differ.
The Sicilian Tarantella in this video is quite unique: it’s danced while playing a tambourine and even includes a game of rock-paper-scissors.
After the game, the choreography where the woman rejoices when the man loses is also amusing, and unlike folk dances that simply repeat the same steps, it has a storyline.