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European dances refers to various dances originating in
Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...
. Since the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
, many European dances tend to be refined, as some are based on the court dances of aristocrats.


History

In
ancient times Ancient history is a time period from the History of writing, beginning of writing and recorded human history through late antiquity. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, beginning with the development of Sumerian language, ...
, European dances were performed as either
sacred dance Sacred dance is the use of dance in religious Ceremony, ceremonies and rituals, present in most religions throughout history and prehistory. Its connection with the human body and fertility has caused it to be forbidden by some religions; for exa ...
s in religious ceremonies or for popular entertainment.
Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...
dance included religious worship, education, religious or civil ceremonies and festivities. One famous
Greek dance Greek dance (''choros''; ) is an old tradition, being referred to by authors such as Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch and Lucian. There are different styles and interpretations from all of the islands and surrounding mainland areas. Each region formed ...
is the
dithyramb The dithyramb (; , ''dithyrambos'') was an ancient Greek hymn sung and danced in honor of Dionysus, the god of wine and fertility; the term was also used as an epithet of the god. Plato, in '' The Laws'', while discussing various kinds of music m ...
, in honor of
Dionysus In ancient Greek religion and Greek mythology, myth, Dionysus (; ) is the god of wine-making, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, festivity, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, and theatre. He was also known as Bacchus ( or ; ...
. Originally
Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...
had exclusively religious dances. As Rome gained dominance, including conquering Greece, more dance traditions were absorbed. The
Bacchanalia The Bacchanalia were unofficial, privately funded popular Roman festivals of Bacchus, based on various ecstatic elements of the Greek Dionysia. They were almost certainly associated with Rome's native cult of Liber, and probably arrived in R ...
and
Lupercalia Lupercalia, also known as Lupercal, was a pastoral festival of Ancient Rome observed annually on February 15 to purify the city, promoting health and fertility. Lupercalia was also known as ''dies Februatus'', after the purification instruments ...
festivals highlight the importance of dance in Rome. Under
Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion, which states that Jesus in Christianity, Jesus is the Son of God (Christianity), Son of God and Resurrection of Jesus, rose from the dead after his Crucifixion of Jesus, crucifixion, whose ...
, dance fell under the control and condemnation of the Church. Records of Medieval dance are fragmented and limited, but a noteworthy dance reference from the medieval period is the allegory of the
Danse Macabre The ''Danse Macabre'' (; ), also called the Dance of Death, is an artistic genre of allegory from the Late Middle Ages on the universality of death. The ''Danse Macabre'' consists of the dead, or a personification of death, summoning represen ...
. During the
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
,
dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
became more diverse. Country dances, performed for pleasure, became distinct from court dances, which had ceremonial and political functions.
Ballet Ballet () is a type of performance dance that originated during the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century and later developed into a concert dance form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of ...
(French: alÉ› is a type of
performance dance Concert dance (also known as performance dance or theatre dance in the United Kingdom) is dance performed for an audience. It is frequently performed in a theatre setting, though this is not a requirement, and it is usually choreography, choreogr ...
that originated during the
Italian Renaissance The Italian Renaissance ( ) was a period in History of Italy, Italian history between the 14th and 16th centuries. The period is known for the initial development of the broader Renaissance culture that spread across Western Europe and marked t ...
in the fifteenth century and later developed into a
concert dance Concert dance (also known as performance dance or theatre dance in the United Kingdom) is dance performed for an audience. It is frequently performed in a theatre setting, though this is not a requirement, and it is usually choreographed and perf ...
form in France and Russia. It has since become a widespread and highly technical form of dance with its own vocabulary. Ballet has been influential globally and has defined the foundational techniques which are used in many other dance genres and cultures. John Playford's
The Dancing Master ''The Dancing Master'' (first edition: ''The English Dancing Master'') is a dancing manual containing the music and instructions for English country dances. It was first published in 1651 by John Playford. History It was published in several ...
(1651) listed over a hundred tunes, each with its own figures. This was enormously popular, reprinted constantly for 80 years and much enlarged. Playford and his successors had a practical monopoly on the publication of dance manuals until 1711, and ceased publishing around 1728. During this period English country dances took a variety of forms including finite sets for two, three and four couples as well as circles and squares. In Germany, from a modified
Ländler The Ländler () is a European folk dance in time. Along with the waltz and allemande, the ländler was sometimes referred to by the generic term German Dance in publications during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Despite its associa ...
, the
waltz The waltz ( , meaning "to roll or revolve") is a ballroom dance, ballroom and folk dance, in triple (3/4 time, time), performed primarily in closed position. Along with the ländler and allemande, the waltz was sometimes referred to by the ...
was introduced in all the European courts. Thus, group dance gives way to couples dance. In the 17th century, the French
minuet A minuet (; also spelled menuet) is a social dance of French origin for two people, usually written in time. The English word was adapted from the Italian ''minuetto'' and the French ''menuet''. The term also describes the musical form tha ...
, characterized by its bows, courtesies and gallant gestures, permeated the European cultural landscape. In the 19th century, the French
can-can The can-can (also spelled cancan as in the original French /kɑ̃kɑ̃/) is a high-energy, physically demanding dance that became a popular music-hall dance in the 1840s, continuing in popularity in French cabaret to this day. Originally dance ...
(also spelled cancan as in the original French /kɑ̃kɑ̃/) is a high-energy, physically demanding dance that became a popular
music-hall Music hall is a type of British theatrical entertainment that was most popular from the early Victorian era, beginning around 1850, through the World War I, Great War. It faded away after 1918 as the halls rebranded their entertainment as Varie ...
dance in the 1840s, continuing in popularity in French
cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, casino, hotel, restaurant, or nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dining or drinking, ...
to this day. Originally danced by couples, it is now traditionally associated with a chorus line of female dancers. The main features of the dance are the vigorous manipulation of skirts and petticoats, along with high kicks, splits, and cartwheels.


National traditions


Poland

Polish folk dances (singular: taniec ludowy, plural: tańce ludowe) Polish dances are deeply rooted in the old and rich Polish tradition and culture. Polish folk dances greatly influenced the whole European music scene, ballrooms, European salons, classical music as well as European folk dances. Later the Polish dance culture spread to other continents, i.e. the US, Canada, South America. Poland's renown 5 National Dances are some of the most popular dances in Europe, these are the
Polonaise The polonaise (, ; , ) is a dance originating in Poland, and one of the five Polish folk dances#National Dances, Polish national dances in Triple metre, time. The original Polish-language name of the dance is ''chodzony'' (), denoting a walki ...
, Mazur/Mazurka,
Krakowiak The Krakowiak or Cracovienne is a fast, syncopated Polish folk dance in duple time from the region of Kraków and Lesser Poland. The folk outfit worn for the dance has become the national costume of Poland, most notably, the rogatywka peaked hat ...
, Kujawiak and Oberek. They are very interesting and quite distinct at the same time being some of the most complex and the most difficult folk dances in the world. Polish National Dances include variety of elements, such as formal ballroom, ballet, acrobatic, theatre elements amongst others. Their beauty and harmony is always complemented by the specific costumes that reflect the aura of the past centuries, historical events, culture and the very spirit of Poland and her people. Polish folk culture and Polish folk/ classic/ballroom music tradition is one of the very important elements of the rich Polish culture and heritage. Some of the many specificities of the Polish dances involve a circle (Polish: koło �kɔwɔ"circle", kołem �kɔwɛm"in a circle"), partners, couples, trios as well as group and/or solo dancers, some of the dances are majestic and very dignified, hieratic, noble and elegant, expressing sophistication and the very nature of the styles, moods and events (i.e. polonaise, Mazur/Mazurka), others in contrast are lively, energetic and joyful. Polish folk dances greatly influenced ballet and well as many other dances and dance art forms. Polish regional dances are the ones specific to a given region, village or city. Podhale, Southern Poland features the culture of the Gorals, Polish highlanders and people ethnic to the mountainous regions. Some similar versions can be found at the Gorals in Slovakia and in Czech Republic. The rhythm of their music is different from the music of the lowlands. Dance from this region are composed of dancing various figures in different combinations dependant on the lively music played on live instruments. They are very technical to execute. These figures include: ozwodnom, bokem, zwyrtanom, wiecnom, drobnom, po dylu, obijanom, grzybowom, po razie, po dwa, and po śtyry. The most popular dances include Zbójnicki, Juhaski, Góralski. These dances include parts where the pair dances together as well as apart. All Polish dances follow specific and well defined steps, sequences, figures, movements, details and accessories each telling a specific story. The oldest Polish dance, known since archaic times is Polonaise/Chodzony dance, it is one of the very specific ancient Polish dances. Its French name "polonaise' reflects the origins of the dance and means "the Polish woman/lady/dance, it is a French adjective feminine. It has been introduced to France in the 16th century. In the past, in Poland the dance was called Chodzony. Nowadays, Polonaise name is the most popular, although locally in Poland, some people still call it Chodzony and use it interchangeably with Polonaise. The original Polish folk dance traditions continue to play an important part in the culture of the country and for centuries, have been a constant element of the Polish social, musical and cultural life, i.e. Polonaise dance is always, traditionally the first and the opening dance at all formal and important events, for example studniówka ball, that occurs every year as the high school students ball, 100 days before the maturity exam (the final high school exam), New Year's balls and similar. Polish folk dances are also in interrelations with other types of artistic expressions. Some examples can be seen in the classical music, cinema, art, theatre, the pop culture and design. Some of the very numerous Polish folk dances that are not included in the category of Polish national dances are: trojniak, polka, pisany, chmielowy, kashubian dances, hajduk, kołomajka, lasowiak, mazurek and many others.


Germany

Germany does not have an official national dance, but recognized dance styles include:German Dance
www.germany101.com/page/german-dance. Retrieved 2016-02-10. *The
Schuhplattler The Schuhplattler is a traditional style of folk dance popular in the Eastern Alps, specifically originating in Upper Bavaria, Tyrol, and Salzburg (state), Salzburg. In this dance, the performers stomp, clap, and strike the soles of their shoes ( ...
: This dance was first of record in 1030 AD, when a monk in the
Tegernsee Abbey Tegernsee Abbey ( German ''Kloster Tegernsee'' or ''Abtei Tegernsee'') is a former Benedictine monastery in the town and district of Tegernsee in Bavaria. Both the abbey and the town that grew up around it are named after the Tegernsee, the lake ...
of Bavaria described a village dance containing leaps and hand gestures. Over the centuries, the form gradually evolved as farmers, hunters, and woodsmen practiced it in the isolated towns and villages of the Bavarian and Tyrolean Alps. *
Ländler The Ländler () is a European folk dance in time. Along with the waltz and allemande, the ländler was sometimes referred to by the generic term German Dance in publications during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Despite its associa ...
: A dance for couples showing fierceness and trampling. Sometimes it is purely instrumental and sometimes is accompanied by vocal arrangements including yodeling. When ballroom dancing became popular in Europe in the 19th century,
Ländler The Ländler () is a European folk dance in time. Along with the waltz and allemande, the ländler was sometimes referred to by the generic term German Dance in publications during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Despite its associa ...
became faster and more elegant and men took the nails off of the boots they danced with. It is believed to be the forerunner of the
waltz The waltz ( , meaning "to roll or revolve") is a ballroom dance, ballroom and folk dance, in triple (3/4 time, time), performed primarily in closed position. Along with the ländler and allemande, the waltz was sometimes referred to by the ...
. *
Polka Polka is a dance style and genre of dance music in originating in nineteenth-century Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. Though generally associated with Czech and Central European culture, polka is popular throughout Europe and the ...
: Originating in Slavic lands, in Bohemia in 1830, it is considered a national Czech dance. It later gained popularity in all European countries, USA and Canada.


Ireland

Irish Dance Irish dance refers to the traditional dance forms that originate in Ireland, including both solo and group dance forms, for social, competitive, and performance purposes. Irish dance has evolved over centuries and is believed to have its roots i ...
refers to a group of traditional
dance Dance is an The arts, art form, consisting of sequences of body movements with aesthetic and often Symbol, symbolic value, either improvised or purposefully selected. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...
forms originating from
Ireland Ireland (, ; ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe. Geopolitically, the island is divided between the Republic of Ireland (officially Names of the Irish state, named Irelan ...
, encompassing dancing both solo and in groups, and dancing for
social Social organisms, including human(s), live collectively in interacting populations. This interaction is considered social whether they are aware of it or not, and whether the exchange is voluntary or not. Etymology The word "social" derives fro ...
, competitive dance, and performance. Irish dance in its current form developed from various influences such as earlier Irish country dance, and later possibly French quadrilles and other European dances such as Polish mazurek as it became popular in Ireland and later also in Britain during the end 19th Century. Dance was taught by "travelling dance masters" across Ireland in the 18/19th century, and separate dance forms developed according to regional practice and differing purposes. Irish dance became a significant part of
Irish culture The culture of Ireland includes the Irish art, art, Music of Ireland, music, Irish dance, dance, Irish mythology, folklore, Irish clothing, traditional clothing, Irish language, language, Irish literature, literature, Irish cuisine, cuisine ...
, particularly for
Irish nationalist Irish nationalism is a nationalist political movement which, in its broadest sense, asserts that the people of Ireland should govern Ireland as a sovereign state. Since the mid-19th century, Irish nationalism has largely taken the form of cult ...
patriotic movements, that helped Ireland and the Irish people to keep their strong national identity.


Hungary

Hungarian dance refers to the folk dances practised and performed by the
Hungarians Hungarians, also known as Magyars, are an Ethnicity, ethnic group native to Hungary (), who share a common Culture of Hungary, culture, Hungarian language, language and History of Hungary, history. They also have a notable presence in former pa ...
, both amongst the populations native to
Hungary Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe. Spanning much of the Pannonian Basin, Carpathian Basin, it is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine to the northeast, Romania to the east and southeast, Serbia to the south, Croatia and ...
and its neighbours, and also amongst the
Hungarian diaspora The Hungarian diaspora or Magyar diaspora refers to ethnic Hungarians (''Magyars'') living outside the borders of present-day Hungary. The diaspora can be divided into two main groups: the first group includes those who are autochthonous to their ...
. According to György Martin, a prominent folklore expert, Hungarian dances can be divided into two categories. The first refers to dances performed in the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
while the second relates to the 18th and 19th century. Hungarians have been noted for their "exceptionally well developed sense of rhythm". In the mid-19th century, Musicologist Theodor Billroth performed tests with troops of various nationalities stationed in Vienna and found that the Hungarian troops outperformed others in keeping time with music. Improvisation and energetic movements are often mentioned as being characteristic of Hungarian dance. One of the most popular Hungarian dances is Csárdás/Czárdás.


Russia

Many Russian folk dances became known from the 10th century. Russia witnessed various invasions from other countries. Due to its location and size the country also came into contact with many different cultures through migration. In turn, a Eurasian cultural mix of music and dance helped develop Russian folk dances. The original Russian folk dance traditions continue to play an important part in the culture of the country and have been in constant interaction with Russia's many ethnic groups. Russian folk dances are also in interrelations with other types of artistic expressions. One example can be seen in the
Ballets Russes The Ballets Russes () was an itinerant ballet company begun in Paris that performed between 1909 and 1929 throughout Europe and on tours to North and South America. The company never performed in Russia, where the Russian Revolution, Revolution ...
, which involves some Russian/Eurasian folk dances.


Czechia

The national dance of Czechia is ÄŒeska polka, invented in 1822, it became particularly popular and liked in Germany, Italy and other European countries as well as the USA.


Ukraine

The main dance genres of Ukrainian folk dance are round dance, as one of the oldest types of folk dance art, the performance of which is associated with calendar rites, and everyday dance, which includes metelitsa, hopak, kozachok, hutsulka, kolomyika, square dance, polka.


Italy

Italian folk dance has been an integral part of
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, a Romance ethnic group related to or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance languag ...
culture for centuries. Dance has been a continuous thread in Italian life from
Dante Dante Alighieri (; most likely baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri; – September 14, 1321), widely known mononymously as Dante, was an Italian Italian poetry, poet, writer, and philosopher. His ''Divine Comedy'', originally called ...
through the
Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) is a Periodization, period of history and a European cultural movement covering the 15th and 16th centuries. It marked the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and was characterized by an effort to revive and sur ...
, the advent of the
tarantella Tarantella () is a group of various Southern Italy, southern Italian Italian folk dance, folk dances originating in the regions of Calabria, Campania, Sicilia, and Apulia. It is characterized by a fast Beat (music), upbeat tempo, usually in Ti ...
in
Southern Italy Southern Italy (, , or , ; ; ), also known as () or (; ; ; ), is a macroregion of Italy consisting of its southern Regions of Italy, regions. The term "" today mostly refers to the regions that are associated with the people, lands or cultu ...
, and the modern revivals of
folk music Folk music is a music genre that includes #Traditional folk music, traditional folk music and the Contemporary folk music, contemporary genre that evolved from the former during the 20th-century folk revival. Some types of folk music may be ca ...
and dance. Italian folk dances, were influenced by Slavic dance, polka, popularised in the 19c.


References

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