Polish folk dances
Many of the dances stem from regional customs and historical events and are distinct from Czech, Slovak and Germanic styles.
Nowadays, the dances are only performed during major events, holidays or in tourist-oriented public spaces.
A great promoter of Polish folk music abroad was pianist and composer Frédéric Chopin, who often incorporated folklore into his works.
Polish folk dances (singular: taniec ludowy, pronounced [ˈtaɲɛts luˈdɔvɨ]; plural: tańce ludowe [ˈtaɲtsɛ luˈdɔvɛ]) tend to be lively, energetic, and joyful.
Many of these dances were brought to the ballroom floor following Napoleon's expansion into Central and Eastern Europe, which brought French nobility imitating the Polish peasants style of dance, and adding flavors of ballet.
The Krakowiak (pronounced [kraˈkɔvʲak]), also known as the Cracovienne, is a fast, syncopated Polish dance in duple time from the region of Kraków and Lesser Poland.
The dance is laced heavily with French influences and the dancers move with grace and speed.
Its songs and dances are simpler, yet very similar to their southern counterparts; Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
An example of this would be the dance called Koło (circle), Koń (horse), Krzyżok and Na Bon.
The most popular dances from this region are Obyrtka, Hajduk, Siustany and Tańiec Zbójnicki na Żywiecczyźnie.
[3][4][5] The northern region of Kashubia, in Polish called Kaszuby, has a variety dances with various national influences due to the ports found on the ocean border in this area.
The names, with their variations across the region, can be found in the collapsible list titled "Kaszuby Dances".
Strong accents and stomping of the feet by men are very characteristic features of the dances from Opoczno.
[13] This Northern region, which has borders along the sea and lakes, has songs and dances which were popular with sailors, fishermen and merchants.
Other dances included Wilk (wolf), Baran (sheep), Pofajdok, Szot, Kosejder, Baba (old lady), Puszczany, Lowiska, Szewc (shoemaker), Kowal (blacksmith), Kłaniany (Bowing), Puszczany, Kozak, Biwat Obchodny (walking) and Kłaniany (bowing), Krakowiaczek and Rozpuszczak.
They include Łowicz, Lachy Sądeckie, Kujawy, Kurpie and Wielkopolska; however it is important to note that this is not an exhaustive list.
