Polish folk dances vary by region.
Contents |
Polish folk dances (singular: taniec ludowy, pronounced [ˈtaɲɛts luˈdɔvɨ]; plural: tańce ludowe [ˈtaɲtsɛ luˈdɔvɛ]) tend to be lively, energetic, and joyful. Hops, twirls, and athletic movements are common. Many dances involve a circle (Polish: koło [ˈkɔwɔ] "circle", kołem [ˈkɔwɛm] "in a circle").
Clothing is usually colorful. In addition, women often wear coral necklaces, particularly red ones. They also decorate their hair with flowers or ribbons. In some regions, women may wear a hat or a loose headscarf. These are sometimes adorned with flowers or ribbons. Mens' hats may also feature decorations, particularly in southern regions.
The Polish national dances are the Krakowiak, Kujawiak, Mazurek, Oberek, and Polonaise.
The Krakowiak (pronounced [kraˈkɔvʲak]) is a fast, syncopated Polish dance in duple time from the region of Kraków and Lesser Poland.
The Kujawiak [kuˈjavʲak] is a dance from the region of Kuyavia in central Poland. The dance usually involves couples moving in a circle, although versions involving only women are also performed. The music is typically in triple meter.
The Mazurek is known in Polish as the Mazur.
http://www.usc.edu/dept/polish_music/dance/oberek.html
The Polonaise is known in Polish as polonez or chodzony.
Dance, music, and clothing by region.
Southern Poland features the culture of the Gorals (Polish highlanders). These dances were brought to this mountain areas with Vlach settlers in the 17th century. Very similar versions can be found at the Gorols in Slovakia and in Czech Republic. The rhythm of their music is different for the otherwise duple or triple-meter of the lowlands. This music was not known to the common Polish ear until the 20th century.
One of the most popular dances is the Trojak. Women typically wear
Popular songs include Szła dzieweczka,
Folk groups (in Polish: Zespół Pieśni i Tańca or ZPiT) include: