What is Bal Folk?

A short film from the very first bal folk festival in Prague. On the 19th and 20th of January 2013, in Klub Biograf, Prague, Czech Republic.

Dancing to folk music has been gaining popularity since the 1970s. The traditional dances come primarily from the French tradition, with additions from all parts of Europe.

There are numerous organisations that organize such dance events monthly and at a lot of folk festivals there are both concerts and dances.

In France some villages have their own annual folk festival.

In Flanders, Boombal is the biggest organisation for the popularization of bal folk. Their influence is so great that the term Boombal is more known than the term bal folk.

Although there are similarities, the dances of bal folk are not the same as dances danced by traditional folkdance groups.
Traditional folk dances have more extensive choreographies and may be danced with traditional clothing. The preservation and/or presentation of a tradition is important here. Music is sometimes played live, sometimes pre-recorded. The audience sits down and watches the dancers perform their choreographies.

Dances of bal folk are generally based on simple traditional choreographies and have an easy base so everyone can easily start with it. Refined movements are not the main concern, improvisation is more common. Often, the music has modern influences. Music is played by live bands. The audience is on the dance floor, dancing to the live music.

Parts of a Balfolk
Initiation / Dance Workshop: A Balfolk may include one or more workshops for Beginners or intermediates shortly before the real
Bal commences. Often the workshops are also accompanied by live music.
Bal: One or more Folk musicians or Folk music groups play for dancing. Unlike some other dancing events, it is unusual to dance with a permanent dance partner. One of the characteristics of Balfolk is that the participants range from the very young to the very old.

Common dances
The dances played during such a session often include:
Schottische
Bourrées
Waltz
Polka
Mazurka
Polska (dance)
Chapelloise, also known as a Gigue (a different dance than the Irish Jig)
The "Circassian circle", a Mixer dance
Breton dances like the "Ridée", "Laridé", "Andro", "Hanter Dro" and "Kost ar c'hoat"
Ronds (many also from Brittany, but also from other parts of France, e.g. Occitania and Poitou)
Branles
Contra dances

http://www.balfolk.cz | What is "bal folk"?

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#Balfolk #Bal_Folk #Bourrees #Bourees #Waltz #Polka #Mazurka #Polska_dance #Schottische #Chapelloise #Circassian_circle #Ridée #Laridé #Andro #Hanter_Dro #Kost_ar_C'hoat #Branle #folk_dance #barn_dance #Folk_Music_(Musical_Genre) #Blowzabella_(Musical_Group)

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