Folk dances
Dances of a village, a region or a people, passed on by doing.
🇪🇸 SpainFlamenco
A dramatic dance and music tradition rooted in Andalusia's gitano and folk culturesFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇦🇷 Argentina and 1 moreTango
A partner dance from the Río de la Plata, danced in close or open embraceSocial dance · Couple
🇦🇹 Austria and 4 moreWaltz
A turning couple dance in triple time, first popular in 18th-century EuropeBallroom or Latin dance · Couple
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreFolk dance
Traditional group dances rooted in local life and passed down through generationsFolk dance · Group · Circle
🇧🇷 BrazilCapoeira
A Brazilian martial art that blends dance, acrobatics, and music in a circle gameWar or martial dance · Circle · Solo
🇪🇬 Egypt and 3 moreBelly danceرقص شرقي
A Middle Eastern dance focused on hip and torso articulation.Folk dance · Solo
🇨🇿 Czech Republic and 5 morePolka
A lively partner dance in 2/4 time from 19th-century BohemiaFolk dance · Couple · Circle
🇳🇿 New ZealandHaka
A ceremonial group dance from New Zealand featuring vigorous movement and chanted words.Folk dance · Group
🇦🇺 AustraliaWangga
A ceremonial song and dance tradition of northern Aboriginal Australian communitiesRitual dance · Group
🇧🇸 Bahamas and 2 moreJunkanoo
A costumed street parade with drumming, dance and masquerade, held at Christmas and other timesFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇵🇭 PhilippinesDinagyang Festival
A street dance festival in Iloilo City honoring the Santo Niño and Ati historyFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇳🇵 Nepal and 3 moreDeusi-Bhailoदेउसी-भैलो
A house-to-house singing and dancing tradition during Tihar in NepalFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇸🇪 SwedenSmå grodorna
A playful Swedish dance around the maypole for Midsummer, miming frog movementsFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇪🇬 Egypt and 3 moreZaffaزفـّـة
A wedding procession with music and dance across the Arab worldFolk dance · Procession · Group
🇧🇷 BrazilMaracatu
A parade of drums, song and royal court figures from Pernambuco, BrazilFolk dance · Procession · Group
🇮🇳 India and 1 moreGarba
A circle dance from Gujarat performed around a clay pot during the Navratri festival.Folk dance · Circle
🇮🇳 IndiaDhunuchi nritya
A dance with incense burners during Durga Puja in BengalFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇳🇬 Nigeria and 1 moreEgungunEgúngún
A Yoruba ancestor masquerade where robed dancers embody the spirits of the dead.Ritual dance · Group · Procession
🇯🇵 JapanAwa Dance Festival阿波踊り
A street dance festival held during Obon in Tokushima, JapanFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇯🇲 JamaicaDancehall
A Jamaican street dance style shaped by sound system parties and fast rhythmsStreet or club dance · Group · Solo
🇮🇱 IsraelHakafotהַקָּפוֹת
A joyful circling procession with Torah scrolls in synagogue on Simchat Torah and SukkotRitual dance · Procession · Circle
🇪🇨 EcuadorSanjuanito
A circle dance and music from Ecuador’s Andean highlands, often for Inti RaymiFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago and 5 moreMocko jumbie
Tall stilt dancers in masks, leading Carnival parades across the CaribbeanFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇮🇳 IndiaRamlilaरामलीला
A folk drama of the Ramayana, staged outdoors during Navaratri and DussehraFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇺🇸 United States and 1 morePowwow
A gathering of Indigenous communities with dance, song, and ceremonyFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇧🇪 Belgium and 5 moreProcessional giant
Huge costumed figures carried and danced in European street processionsFolk dance · Solo · Procession
🇮🇳 IndiaPaika akhada
A martial dance with swords and shields from Odisha, rooted in warrior trainingWar or martial dance · Group · Line or chain
🇮🇳 IndiaThang Taꯊꯥꯡ ꯇꯥ
A martial art from Manipur using swords, spears, and unarmed movesWar or martial dance · Solo · Group
🇻🇪 VenezuelaDancing devils of Corpus ChristiDiablos danzantes de Corpus Christi
Masked dancers in red parade and perform on Corpus Christi in Venezuelan townsRitual dance · Procession · Group
🇹🇭 ThailandThai danceนาฏศิลป์
Classical and folk dances shaped by many cultures across Thailand’s regionsClassical dance · Solo · Group
🇧🇧 BarbadosBarbados Land-ship
A parade and dance tradition in Barbados, mimicking naval maneuvers on landFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇧🇷 BrazilSamba-reggae
A Carnival street dance from Bahia, led by drummers and rooted in Afro-Brazilian prideFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇯🇵 JapanTankō Bushi炭坑節
A Bon dance from Japan with gestures of coal miningFolk dance · Circle · Group
🇵🇱 Poland and 3 morePolonaisePolonez, chodzony
A stately walking dance in triple time, opening Polish celebrations and ballsFolk dance · Couple · Procession
🇵🇱 Poland and 5 moreMazurka
A lively Polish folk dance in triple time, known for its shifting accentsFolk dance · Couple · Group
🇨🇺 Cuba and 2 moreSalsa
A lively partner dance with spins and footwork, danced to salsa music worldwideSocial dance · Couple · Solo
🇪🇸 Spain and 5 morePasodoble
A dramatic Spanish partner dance set to march-like music, echoing the bullfightFolk dance · Couple · Group
🇨🇳 China and 5 moreLion dance舞獅
A costumed dance that mimics a lion to bring luck and drive away evilFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇭🇺 Hungary and 5 moreCsárdás
A Hungarian folk dance that begins slowly and ends in a fast spin.Folk dance · Couple · Group
🇮🇹 Italy and 2 moreTarantella
A fast southern Italian folk dance in six-eight time, accompanied by tambourines and hand clapping.Folk dance · Solo · Couple
🇺🇸 United StatesTap dance
A percussive dance using metal-soled shoes to create rhythms on the floorFolk dance · Solo · Group
🇫🇷 FranceGavotte
A French dance with skipping steps, once danced in lines or circles at court and in villagesFolk dance · Line or chain · Circle
🇫🇷 France and 4 moreQuadrille
A social dance for four couples in a square, with set figures and changing musicSocial dance · Set or square · Group
🇺🇦 UkraineHopakГопак
A lively Ukrainian folk dance known for jumps and acrobatic movesFolk dance · Solo · Couple
🇨🇳 ChinaDragon dance舞龙 / 舞龍
A team dance with a giant dragon puppet, seen at Chinese New Year and festivalsFolk dance · Group · Procession
🇬🇷 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
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Haka: Merrett, Joseph Jenner, 1816-1854., Public domain, source
- Polonaise: Korneli Szlegel, Public domain, source
- Pasodoble: EpiKzo, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mazurka: Huster, Public domain, source
- Polka: Chaffee A-ii, Public domain, source
- Tarantella: Apollon Mokritsky, Public domain, source
- Sirtaki: Simon Bonaventure, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Hopak: Невідомий художник, Public domain, source
- Cumbia: Joseacuario, CC0, source
- Raqs sharqi: 13th century artist, Public domain, source
- Salsa: Edil Villa, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Awa Dance Festival: Rosino, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Tankō Bushi: Akiyoshi's Room, Public domain, source
- Dinagyang Festival: Bernardo 'Berniemack' Arellano III, CC BY 3.0, source
- Maracatu: Prefeitura de Olinda, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mocko jumbie: COD Newsroom, CC BY 2.0, source
- Thai dance: Berlin Phonogramm-Archiv, Public domain, source
- Dancing devils of Corpus Christi: Wilfredor, CC0, source
- Processional giant: Jesús Serna, CC BY-SA 2.5, source
- Powwow: Smithsonian Institution, No restrictions, source
- Små grodorna: Uploaded by Mikael Häggström, CC0, source
- Sanjuanito: G.Garitan, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Dancehall: Desiresibbs, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Barbados Land-ship: Ronaldwalcott, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Hakafot: Meir624, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Dhunuchi nritya: Amitbsws, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ramlila: Ankit Gupta, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Deusi-Bhailo: Enepal Khabar Official, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Thang Ta: Rameshgraphix, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Junkanoo: WikiPedant, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Capoeira: Augustus Earle, Public domain, source
- Gavotte: Randolph Caldecott, Public domain, source
- Tango: carlos luque, CC BY 2.5, source
- Lion dance: Alfresco24, CC BY 3.0, source
- Dragon dance: Caseman, Public domain, source
- Flamenco: John Singer Sargent, Public domain, source
- Waltz: unknown engraver, Public domain, source
- Folk dance: Francisco Pajares, Jr., CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Tap dance: Jack Delano, Public domain, source
- Quadrille: Silar, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Garba: anurag agnihotri, CC BY 2.0, source
- Csárdás: Unknown author, Public domain, source
- Krakowiak: Władysław Bakałowicz, Public domain, source
- Egungun: Ìṣẹ̀ṣeAssembly, CC BY-SA 4.0, source