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 Masterpieces and Popular Songs (41–50)
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.
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.
Camdance Claradine
It’s a Belgian dance.
The title means “Clara, let’s dance together.” With a relaxed and cheerful tone, it’s perfect music for dancing.
You can almost picture a peaceful scene of inviting Clara to dance and dancing with gentle smiles.
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.
Oh, Dem Golden SlippersJames Brand
It’s a song well-known as an American popular tune.
In Japan, it has spread under the Japanese translation “Ano Machi Kono Machi.” It was created as a parody of a Black spiritual written for minstrel shows.
In the United States, it is often performed as an instrumental.
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.
Chimes of Dunkirk
A folk dance handed down in Belgium and the Flemish region.
If you listen to the melody repeatedly, you may notice parts that resemble the song sung by the dwarfs in Disney’s Snow White.
The movements, where dancers twirl around while switching partners, look a bit challenging, but the fairy-tale-like melody is cheerful, and I’m sure it would be great fun to dance.