Folk Dance

Folk dances are integral to understanding any group of people, any culture, any time period in human history.  They can be used to extend and deepen social studies and language arts lessons as students read about and discuss specific folk dances.  Some folk dances include songs that are sung by the participants, further extending connections to language arts.  Students can also use folk and popular songs to create new dances.  The resources listed below include favorite resources for purchase elsewhere as well as free online resources.

Here are some of my favorite dances:

Galopede
​Heel Toe Polka
Virginia Reel

New England Dancing Masters

This is hands-down one of the best resources for American folk dances for children.  Dances are carefully selected, instructions are easy to follow, and the recordings are delightfully authentic.  "New England Dancing Masters: Andy Davis, Mary Cay Brass, and Peter and Mary Alice Amidon are all professional dance musicians, callers, and dance teachers. All have extensive experience teaching dance to elementary school students, both as music teachers and as artists-in-residence. They have time-tested the dances and singing games published here in classrooms and at community dances all over the country."

Moving within the Circle

Follow the link in the title for the definitive collection of Native American songs and dances suitable for general elementary school use. It is well worth the purchase for something that is authentic and appropriate. 
  

Alabama Gal

This is an example of a dance accompanied by the singing of the dancers. In some places in colonial America, it was at one time considered inappropriate to dance to the music of the fiddle. Or, if there was simply no fiddle available, people danced to their own singing. These types of social experiences were referred to as play parties. To see a group of college students demonstrating this folk dance, select the title (above). 

Roots and Branches

This is my favorite collections of children's songs, games, and dances from around the world. It comes complete with context and audio recordings.