folk dance

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A traditional dance of a region or community, usually learned by watching and joining in, often at festivals.

   Grammar: Countable: a folk dance, several folk dances.

   Patterns

   • a folk dance from somewhere

   The children learned a folk dance from Ireland.

   At the festival, everyone joined a lively folk dance in the square.

   The village keeps its folk dance alive by teaching it at school.

2. 2noununcountable

   The general tradition or style of such dances considered as an art form.

   Grammar: Uncountable: folk dance is popular in many cultures.

   Patterns

   • folk dance of somewhere

   Folk dance often reflects the history of the place it comes from.

   She studies folk dance at a university in Romania.

   Folk dance clubs meet every Friday evening.

Word forms

Common combinations

traditional folk dance

The group performed a traditional folk dance.

learn a folk dance

We learned a folk dance at the cultural fair.

perform a folk dance

The troupe will perform a folk dance tonight.

folk dance festival

The folk dance festival attracts thousands.

folk dance costume

A colorful folk dance costume is worn.

Synonyms and how they differ

traditional dance

is broader and includes court and religious dances, not only village ones.

country dance

is an English style, often with set patterns, while folk dance is worldwide.

square dance

is a specific American style with callers and four couples.

ceilidh

is a Scottish or Irish social event with dancing, not the dance genre itself.

Opposites

Word family

folk noun

ordinary people of a community

folklore noun

traditional stories and customs

dancer noun

someone who dances

folk music noun

traditional music of a community

Commonly confused: folk dance or ballroom dance?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “folk dance”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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