Most popular traditional dances in Europe

Dancing is a beautiful form of expression that has been around since the dawn of human civilization. There are two important components of dance: dancing as art and dancing as a cultural expression. In the case of traditional dances, these two components go together. Traditional dances are beautiful forms of artistic expression that have and were perpetuated throughout centuries, therefore becoming emblematic of the cultures where they came from. Europe, with all its different and rich cultures, has a variety of traditional dances. Some of them became very popular all around the world and gained new meanings in the eyes of many people.

Flamenco

One of the best examples of that is flamenco. Flamenco dancing is based on the folkloric music tradition of Southern Spain and it has been around since the 16th century. This dance has become extremely popular around the world, especially in the United States and Japan. It is widely recognized as one of the most passionate and intimate dances in the world. It is so emblematic of the art form of dancing that we even have a flamenco dancer emoji on our phones. Thanks to that, the woman in the vibrant red floaty dress is the default mental representation that many people have when they think about dancing.

The Traditional Irish Dance

Traditional Irish dancing has a unique history that is closely tied to the Irish cultural identity. It has such a powerful cultural significance that many people in the Irish diaspora learn this dance as a means of connecting with their Irish heritage. If you are one of those people and you’re planning to take up Irish dancing and looking for Irish dancing footwear,  Irish dance shoes online available here. Not much is known about Irish dancing before the 17th century. However, by that time, it already became extremely widespread throughout Ireland. Irish dancing is performed for social, competitive, and performance purposes. It is performed at St. Patrick’s Day festivals and there are multiple local, regional and international Irish dance competitions. The Irish dance has become immensely popular around the world thanks to the show Riverdance. It all started as an activity during the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest in Dublin. The act was so popular that the dancers were invited to the prestigious Dominion Theatre in London where Prince Charles was present. Riverdance became so iconic that it inspired the foundation of many dance companies exploring this style of dance around the world.

The French Can-Can

Another famous dance that comes from Europe is the French can-can. It has become popular in the 19th century and it is still popular today in French cabaret. The modern form of can-can is associated with the famous Moulin Rouge cabaret in Paris. You’ve probably seen the can-can dance in many movies and TV-shows. The women in blustery skirts with their upwards movement of the legs were considered very scandalous in the 19th and 20th centuries and this led to its fame as a seductive dance. Today, Moulin Rouge is a tourist attraction that offers unique can-can performances for visitors from all over the world.