In my previous two posts, I’ve shared how I sequence movement for students to be successful with folk dance. As my students become comfortable with their movement and coordinated in their bodies through scattered formation dances, stationary dances, and simple circle dances, I know they are ready for formal folk dances. Most of my folk dance material comes from Phyllis Weikart’s book, Teaching Movement and Dance, and the New England Dancing Masters folk dances. I tend to categorize folk dance experiences by:
- Leader Dances – one student leads a group of students through the dance
- Circle Dances – all students participate in circle formation
- Partner Dances – students are paired with another student for the duration of the dance
- Longway Sets – students are in paired with another student for the dance, but in a line formation
The dances I share are in no way a comprehensive list of folk dances for each category. I’m simply sharing examples of each kind of dance at different ages/grade level. The more we dance in class, the more dances my students want to learn. It’s such a fun way to build community and get students moving in class!
Leader Dances
Leader dances are a great way to get kids moving while doing the same thing! Here are some of my favorite leader dances for elementary students.
- At the Bottom of the Sea – traditional
- Canavalito – Weikart
- Haya Ze Basedeh – Weikart
- This dance I learned from Brian Burnett at an Orff Level at the University of Kentucky. Using the Haya Ze Basedeh recording from Rhythmically Moving, group students in a line of 8. Designate the leader and have the other 7 students line up behind the leader. When the music begins, the leader chooses a movement to do and moves around the room (e.g. waving arms). The other 7 students follows thee leader mimicking the movement for 20 beats. On the 20th beat, the leader freezes into a statue, the line reverses and now the last person in the line leads the dance. After each 20 beats, the “statues” change shape and the dance continues until there everyone is a statue. One of the best parts of the dance is that the statues create pathways/obstacles to those who are still dancing. This is such a fun dance to do with 2nd and 3rd grade students!
Circle Dances
Circle dances are just as they sound – dances done in a circular formation. Students all do the same motions but without partners.
- Jump Josie – NEDM
- Yankee Doodle – Weikart
- There are two versions of the dance, depending on the edition of the Phyllis Weikart book you own. I like the original version (found in editions 1-5) as It’s such a simple dance and a great introduction to circle dances for little ones. The original Yankee Doodle uses the following steps:
- 8 jumps
- 8 steps counter clockwise
- 4 down/up (we call these “music squats”
- 4 steps in/ 4 steps out
- There are two versions of the dance, depending on the edition of the Phyllis Weikart book you own. I like the original version (found in editions 1-5) as It’s such a simple dance and a great introduction to circle dances for little ones. The original Yankee Doodle uses the following steps:
- Irish Stew – Weikart
- Seven Jumps – Weikart
Partner Dances
Partner dances are simply dances done with another person. They can be in circle formation or scattered formations.
- Sasha – NEDM
- Fjaskern – Weikart
- Heel Toe Polka – NEDM
- Sashay the Donut – NEDM
Longway Sets
Longway sets are partner dances that are in a line formation. There are two lines facing one another with the partners across from one another. Typically, longway sets have 8 sets of partners. When possible, I have 2-3 longway sets in a class so that everyone has an opportunity to be the head couple (lead) within the dance.
- Alabama Gal – NEDM
- Noble Duke of York – NEDM
- Chimes of Dunkirk – NEDM
Where to Find Folk Dance Resources
- Movement Resources for Elementary Music
- Folk Dance Formation Slides on TpT
- Movement Word Wall on TpT
- Dance & Freeze Movement Activities on TpT
- Phyllis Weikart Materials
- New England Dancing Masters
- English Country Dances
- YouTube Channels
- Bow Tie Music
- Robert Amchin
- High Scope Folk Dance (see clips of Phyllis Weikart teaching folk dances)
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