Folk dance classics and popular songs
When you think of folk dancing, many schools probably include it as one of the events at their sports days or athletic festivals, right?
I’m sure many of you actually danced folk dances during your school days.
Folk dance, to begin with, refers to dances set to traditional songs from various countries, and there are a lot of pieces used for folk dancing.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of folk dance songs from around the world—from standard classics to lesser-known, niche tracks.
If you’re a school teacher, a member of a PE committee, or anyone looking to choose music for a folk dance, please use this as a reference.
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Folk Dance Classics and Popular Songs (31–40)
La Mazurka Antigua
It is Puerto Rican music.
Antigua means “old” in Spanish.
The mazurka is a type of Polish folk dance and musical form, as famous as the polonaise, characterized by a basic 3/4 time.
The piece has a somewhat wistful, melancholic tone.
Ten Pretty Girls
It’s an American folk dance.
Several people line up side by side and dance with their arms linked behind each other.
Since the arms stay linked, the dance focuses mainly on footwork.
Even first-timers can probably jump right into the line and dance together.
The music has a bright feel with an easy-to-follow tempo.
Kohanochika
It is a Russian folk dance.
“Kokhanotchka” means “beloved.” This refined dance is performed with lively Russian polka steps, set to an up-tempo melody that creates a flowing, high-speed feel.
RakukaraMekishiko min’yō
It has been suggested that the title alludes to Victoriano Huerta, Villa’s arch-enemy.
While it can also mean “cockroach” or “aphid,” documents have been discovered indicating that this song was a favorite among Villa’s troops, who were formed at the time to overthrow Huerta.
Cossack dance
When you think of folk dancing, the image is often of men and women paired up, but there are also dances performed individually, like this one.
Although the video is labeled as a soldiers’ dance, the performance is so superb that you’d think they were all ballet dancers.
I’ve heard that the Cossack dance was once banned because it was the dance of a people who had been suppressed.
Folk Dance Masterpieces and Popular Songs (41–50)
Tzadik Katamar
In Israeli dance, the title is said to mean “The righteous will flourish like the date palm.” It’s a dance that’s fun with many people, and the choreography is very simple.
As you shift the flow of movement to the right and to the left while dancing, it seems you can enjoy a sense of fun similar to Mayim Mayim.
Rosalia of the Mountain
The original song is called Aleksandrovski and there is a theory that the name honors Emperor Alexander II.
In Japan, Japanese lyrics were added and it was covered by groups such as The Three Graces and Dark Ducks.
In Russia, there is a “ballroom-style” folk dance that imitates court dances, and one of these is said to be Aleksandrovski.