European Dances
Folk dances are dances that share some or all of the following attributes:
- Dances performed at social functions by people with little or no professional training, often to traditionally based music.
- Dances not generally designed for public performance or the stage, though may be later arranged and set for stage performances.
- Execution dominated by an inherited tradition rather than innovation (though folk traditions change over time)
- New dancers often learn informally by observing others and/or receiving help from others.
The term "folk dance" is sometimes applied to dances of historical importance in European culture and history; typically originated before 20th century. For other cultures the terms "ethnic dance" or "traditional dance" are sometimes used, although the latter terms may encompass ceremonial dances.
Shrewsbury Morris Dance Festival
There are a number of modern dances, such as hip hop dance, that evolve spontaneously, but the term "folk dance" is generally not applied to them, and the terms "street dance" or "vernacular dance" are used instead. The term "folk dance" is reserved for dances which are to a significant degree bound by tradition and originated in the times when the distinction existed between the dances of "common folk" and the dances of the "high society".
Morris dancing in the grounds of Wells Cathedral, England A number of modern ballroom dances originated from folk ones.
The terms "ethnic" and "traditional" are used when it is required to emphasize the cultural roots of the dance. In this sense, nearly all folk dances are ethnic ones. If some dances, such as polka, cross ethnic boundaries and even cross the boundary between "folk" and "ballroom dance", ethnic differences are often considerable enough to mention, e.g., Czech polka vs. German polka.
Not all ethnic dances are folk dances; for example, ritual dances or dances of ritual origin are not considered to be folk dances. Ritual dances are usually called "Religious dances" because of their purpose.
Europe
Varieties of European folk dances include:
- Ball de bastons
- Barn dance
- Céilidh
- Clogging
- English country dance
- Georgian folk dances
- Greek dances
- International folk dance
- Maypole dance
- Morris dance
- Polka
- Polonez (Polish)
- Turkish dance
- Verbuňk
- Nordic polska dance
- Square dance
- Sword dance
Sword dances include Longsword dances and rapper dancing. Some choreographed dances such as contra dance, Scottish country dance, and modern Western square dance, are called folk dances, though this is not true in the strictest sense. Country dance overlaps with contemporary folk dance and ballroom dance. Most country dances and ballroom dances originated from folk dances, with gradual refinement over the years.
A Ball de bastons stick dance from Catalonia 
Cyprus folk dance with glasses in Paphos
People familiar with folk dancing can often determine what country a dance is from even if they have not seen that particular dance before. Some countries' dances have features that are unique to that country, although neighboring countries sometimes have similar features. For example, the German and Austrian schuhplattling dance consists of slapping the body and shoes in a fixed pattern, a feature that few other countries' dances have. Folk dances sometimes evolved long before current political boundaries, so that certain dances are shared by several countries. For example, some Serbian, Bulgarian, and Croatian dances share the same or similar dances, and sometimes even use the same name and music for those dances.
Macedonian female folk dance, Tresenica, performed by Tanec
Mtiuluri - Georgian Folk Dance, mtiuluri, mountain dance of Georgia.
International folk dance groups exist in cities and college campuses in many countries, in which dancers learn folk dances from many cultures for recreation.
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