While there are books about folk dances from individual countries or regions, there isn’t a single comprehensive book on folk dances across the globe. This illustrated compendium offers the student, teacher, choreographer, historian, media critic, ethnographer, and general reader an overview of the evolution and social and religious significance of folk dance. The Encyclopedia of World Folk Dancefocuses on the uniqueness of kinetic performance and its contribution to the study and appreciation of rhythmic expression around the globe. Following a chronology of momentous events dating from prehistoryto the present day, the entries in this volume include material on technical terms, character roles, and specific dances. The entries also summarize the historical and ethnic milieu of each style and execution, highlighting, among other elements, such features as: origins purpose rituals and traditions props dress holidays themes

Folk Dances of Jamaica is a detailed practical and theoretical discussion of five Jamaican folk dances - the Kumina, Dinkie Minie, Quadrille, Bruckin's, and Revival. The book's strength and appeal lies in the care taken to introduce, describe and illuminate in detail these dances. The book is invaluable for the student of dance, providing as it does practical information on both technique and performance, and is illustrated with bold drawings by "H" Patten. The author herself trained as a dancer and her book was researched in traditional settings in Jamaica and at the Jamaica School of Dance, where she studied after graduating in Performing Arts from Leicester Polytechnic. She has maintained a strong interest in dance, becoming Dance and Mime Officer for East Midlands Arts in the late 1980s and then General Manager for Adzido Dance Ensemble. As Arts Council England's Director of Dance from 1994 - 2003, Hilary championed the policy, development and promotion of all forms of dance nationally and internationally, before widening her expertise through leadership roles in the arts and broader cultural and creative industries.

Contains complete descriptions of over 215 beginning and intermediate folk dances organized by level of difficulty.

This is an extensive work on international folk dancing as practiced in the United States. It tells how to do the hopak, czardas and the bamboo pole dance; plan an international folk dance program; do the little finger hold and the hambo swing. International Folk Dancing U.S.A. presents historical vignettes on pioneer folk dance leaders; instructions for 180 dances from 30 countries; contributions from 60 folk dance authorities; easy-to-follow dance step descriptions; a Glossary of folk dance terms; many helpful illustrations.

Breandan Breathnach's classic study of the history and development of Irish traditional music, song and dance.

2010 revision of New England Dancing Masters' classic collection of 20 traditional dances for children. First published in 1991, the editors have improved and updated the dance descriptions, and added several sections on teaching dance to children including tips on calling a dance and various strategies for choosing partners with children. Includes simple longways dances, circle dances, square dances and contra dances. Ideas for teaching dance successfully in schools, a glossary of dance terms and transcriptions of the dance tunes are included. CD recording features some of New England's finest dance musicians playing all the music needed to teach the dances. The revised CD includes three new recordings. Reels, jigs, polka and waltz are played dance length. The two square dances include singing calls on the recording.