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.
- Top Songs to Hype Up Sports Day and Athletic Festivals [2026]
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- Dance/popular songs ranking for the school cultural festival
- Songs you can dance to around the campfire. A roundup of recommended tracks for dancing.
- [Childcare] Recommended for sports day performances and dances! A collection of classic and popular songs
- Folk Songs of the World | Hometown Songs Passed Down Abroad
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- For Seniors: Festive Attractions to Liven Up Festivals—Games and Recreational Activities
- [Camp Songs] Classic camping songs. Campfire songs you can play along with
- Songs that hype up the athlete entrance at school sports festivals
- [For Creative Dance] A Collection of Easy-to-Dance Japanese and Western Tracks
Folk Dance Masterpieces and Popular Songs (41–50)
Gustavs Skor
This piece is a Swedish folk dance named after King Gustav II Adolf, from the period when 17th-century Sweden was at its zenith.
Originally, it was an elegant court dance performed by the nobility, but it later spread among commoners as a folk dance.
As a result, the piece is said to have evolved into a two-part structure: the first half in an aristocratic style and the second half in a peasant style.
Folk Dance Masterpieces and Popular Songs (51–60)
corridos
“Corrido” is a Spanish word that means “a story-like song.” It is considered a Mexican dance, but it was created by an American, who is said to have assembled steps from various Mexican dances.
In Mexico, they reportedly dance this Mexican dance that was made in the United States and then reintroduced back into the country.
Golden Slippers
“Golden Slippers” is an American popular song also known as a folk dance tune, and in Japan it is sometimes titled as the folk dance piece “Ano Machi Kono Machi.” It is a folk dance performed to a lively, country-style rhythm, in which male-female couples dance while continually changing partners.
Tango Irishman
It’s a British folk dance.
Tango refers to the dance and music of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Montevideo, Uruguay, as well as things modeled after them.
It’s danced in pairs, taking each other’s hands and moving forward, and I think it’s the kind of dance that lets you really feel like you’re dancing.
Lauterbach
The name varies by region, so it’s sometimes called Lauter and sometimes Luther.
The piece originated in Germany, and the dance is from southern Germany.
It features turning movements, danced in a circle, with the men circulating so that partners change little by little.
Ashleigh AishUri Shevach
This is a folk dance piece originating in Israel.
It is mainly danced in male–female pairs, characterized by a lively, bright, samba-like rhythmic tempo.
The theme depicts a man passionately approaching a fiery woman, declaring his desire to be her number one.
Bo’itiy el-HagalilYair Rozenblum
An Israeli dance with a Hebrew title.
It means “Come to Galilee.” Galilee is a tourist destination famous for its beautiful lake.
When moving forward with four running steps starting with the right foot, the key point is to lean your upper body forward firmly.