Circle dances of the world
Dancers in a ring, hands joined or not, moving round a centre.
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreFolk dance
Traditional group dances rooted in local life and passed down through generationsFolk dance · Group · Circle
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreBreakdancing
A street dance with acrobatics, floorwork and freezes, born in 1970s New York CityStreet or club dance · Solo · Group
🇧🇷 BrazilCapoeira
A Brazilian martial art that blends dance, acrobatics, and music in a circle gameWar or martial dance · Circle · Solo
🇨🇿 Czech Republic and 5 morePolka
A lively partner dance in 2/4 time from 19th-century BohemiaFolk dance · Couple · Circle
🇮🇱 IsraelHakafotהַקָּפוֹת
A joyful circling procession with Torah scrolls in synagogue on Simchat Torah and SukkotRitual dance · Procession · Circle
🇸🇪 SwedenSmå grodorna
A playful Swedish dance around the maypole for Midsummer, miming frog movementsFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇪🇨 EcuadorSanjuanito
A circle dance and music from Ecuador’s Andean highlands, often for Inti RaymiFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇧🇧 BarbadosBarbados Land-ship
A parade and dance tradition in Barbados, mimicking naval maneuvers on landFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇯🇵 JapanTankō Bushi炭坑節
A Bon dance from Japan with gestures of coal miningFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreGarba
A circle dance from Gujarat performed around a clay pot during the Navratri festival.Folk dance · Circle
🇺🇸 United States and 1 morePowwow
A gathering of Indigenous communities with dance, song, and ceremonyFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇨🇺 Cuba and 2 moreSalsa
A lively partner dance with spins and footwork, danced to salsa music worldwideSocial dance · Couple · Solo
🇫🇷 FranceGavotte
A French dance with skipping steps, once danced in lines or circles at court and in villagesFolk dance · Line or chain · Circle
🇬🇷 Greece and 1 moreSirtakiσυρτάκι
A line dance that starts slow and speeds up, created for the film Zorba the Greek.Folk dance · Line or chain · Circle
🇵🇱 PolandKrakowiak
A fast Polish partner dance from Kraków, known for its syncopated rhythm and circle formation.Folk dance · Couple · Circle
🇨🇴 Colombia and 1 moreCumbia
A circle dance from Colombia’s Caribbean coast, led by couples with candles and musicians in the centerFolk dance · Couple · Circle
🇫🇷 FranceBourrée
A lively French dance in double or triple time, once found in both villages and courtsFolk dance · Couple · Circle
🇺🇸 United StatesCharleston
A fast-paced dance with kicks and twists, first popular in 1920s AmericaSocial dance · Solo · Couple
🇵🇸 Palestine and 5 moreDabkeدبكة
A line and circle dance for celebrations across the LevantFolk dance · Circle · Line or chain
🇮🇪 Ireland and 3 moreIrish dance
Solo and group dances from Ireland, known for fast footwork and lively formationsFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇷🇸 Serbia and 2 moreKoloКоло
A South Slavic circle dance for groups at weddings and celebrationsFolk dance · Circle · Line or chain
🇪🇸 SpainSardana
A circle dance from Catalonia, open to all who know its stepsFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇺🇸 United States and 2 moreSwing dance
A lively group of partner dances born with jazz in 1920s–40s AmericaSocial dance · Couple · Circle
🇷🇴 Romania and 3 moreCălușari
A springtime men's ritual dance with acrobatics and sticks from RomaniaFolk dance · Group · Circle
🇷🇴 Romania and 6 moreHora
A group circle dance found across Southeast Europe and in Jewish communitiesFolk dance · Circle · Line or chain
🇰🇷 South Korea and 1 moreGanggangsullae강강술래
A Korean circle dance sung and danced by women under the full moonFolk dance · Circle · Line or chain
🇬🇷 Greece and 5 moreCircle dance
A group dance in a circle or curved line, joined by hand and led around the floorFolk dance · Circle · Line or chain
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreHip-hop dance
Improvised street dance styles shaped by hip-hop music and cultureStreet or club dance · Solo · Group
🇮🇳 India and 2 moreGiddhaਗਿੱਧਾ
A Punjabi women's folk dance in a singing, clapping circleFolk dance · Circle
🇮🇳 IndiaBhangra
A high-energy circle dance from Punjab, led by the beat of the dhol drumFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇫🇷 France and 3 moreBranle
A French chain dance of linked couples moving side to side, popular from the 1500s.Folk dance · Circle · Line or chain
🇮🇩 IndonesiaKecakᬓᬾᬘᬓ᭄
A massed chant and dance-drama from Bali, performed in a circle at duskFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇰🇷 South Korea and 1 moreTalchum탈춤
A Korean mask dance-drama mixing satire, ritual and storyFolk dance · Group · Circle
🇨🇺 Cuba and 1 moreRueda de Casino
A Cuban salsa dance in a circle, with moves called out and partners swappingSocial dance · Circle · Group
🇰🇪 Kenya and 1 moreAdumu
A vertical leaping dance performed by Maasai warriors in a circle to show strength and agility.Folk dance · Circle
🇧🇷 BrazilSamba
A lively Brazilian dance with fast footwork and syncopated rhythmsFolk dance · Solo · Couple
🇨🇿 Czech Republic and 5 moreSchottische
A partnered country dance with sidesteps and turns, found across Europe and the AmericasFolk dance · Couple · Circle
🇦🇴 Angola and 1 moreKuduro
A fast electronic dance from Angola with sharp, staccato movements inspired by street life and resilience.Social dance · Circle · Group
🇬🇧 United Kingdom and 5 moreCéilidh
A social dance gathering with live music from Scotland and IrelandFolk dance · Couple · Set or square
🇮🇳 IndiaGhoomarघूमर
A circle dance of twirling women, performed at weddings and festivals in RajasthanFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇧🇷 BrazilMaculelê
A stick dance from Bahia, Brazil, performed in a circle with singing and drummingFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇦🇫 Afghanistan and 2 moreAttanاتڼ
A fast-paced circle dance of the Pashtun people, performed at celebrations and gatheringsFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇷🇺 Russia and 2 moreKhorovod
A Slavic circle dance with singing, done hand in handFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇦🇷 Argentina and 3 moreZamba
A slow partner dance from Argentina, with couples circling and waving white handkerchiefsFolk dance · Couple · Circle
🇬🇷 Greece and 1 moreKalamatianosΚαλαματιανός
A lively Greek circle dance in a 7/8 rhythm, often led with a handkerchiefFolk dance · Circle
🇹🇷 Turkey and 4 moreHalay
A group dance in lines or circles, led by music or singing at weddings and celebrationsFolk dance · Circle · Line or chain
🇮🇳 IndiaDollu Kunitha
A vigorous drum dance performed in Karnataka, led by a circle of drummersFolk dance · Group · Circle
🇲🇦 MoroccoAhidusⴰⵃⵢⴷⵓⵙ (aḥidous)
A Berber circle dance from Morocco, performed by tribes for celebration and unity.Folk dance · Circle · Line or chain
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Ganggangsullae: originally by photoren, CC BY 2.0, source
- Polka: Chaffee A-ii, Public domain, source
- Sirtaki: Simon Bonaventure, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Bourrée: Pierre André Leclercq, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hora: Chajeshukarie ( talk ), Public domain, source
- Khorovod: Aleksey Stepanov, Public domain, source
- Dabke: Sarah Canbel, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Farandole: Hans Thoma, Public domain, source
- Cumbia: Joseacuario, CC0, source
- Kecak: Rollan Budi, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Giddha: University of the Fraser Valley, CC BY 2.0, source
- Irish dance: U.S. Army, Public domain, source
- Samba: Jonik, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Salsa: Edil Villa, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Tankō Bushi: Akiyoshi's Room, Public domain, source
- Powwow: Smithsonian Institution, No restrictions, source
- Små grodorna: Uploaded by Mikael Häggström, CC0, source
- Sanjuanito: G.Garitan, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Barbados Land-ship: Ronaldwalcott, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hakafot: Meir624, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Capoeira: Augustus Earle, Public domain, source
- Călușari: El bes, CC BY 3.0, source
- Maculelê: Joel Zimmer, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Schottische: Javier Perez Montes, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kolo: Sasa.mazinjanin, Public domain, source
- Sardana: Unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Gavotte: Randolph Caldecott, Public domain, source
- Talchum: originally by photoren, CC BY 2.0, source
- Swing dance: Anthonydpadgett, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Breakdancing: Jose Fernando tenorio rivero, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Folk dance: Francisco Pajares, Jr., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Charleston: Walery , Polish-British, 1863-1929, Public domain, source
- Céilidh: Smithsonian Institution, No restrictions, source
- Halay: Post of Moldova, Public domain, source
- Hip-hop dance: E. Başak, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Dollu Kunitha: Navaneeth Krishnan S, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ghoomar: Aali Jain, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bhangra: Jimmysekhon25, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Garba: anurag agnihotri, CC BY 2.0, source
- Ahidus: Fotograaf / photographer: Drs. F.M. (Frits) Cowan (1931 - 2010), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Krakowiak: Władysław Bakałowicz, Public domain, source
- Branle: Claudine Bouzonnet-Stella, Public domain, source
- Adumu: K15photos, CC BY-SA 4.0, source