Balfolk

The traditional dances that form the basis of balfolk come primarily from the French tradition, with additions from all over Europe. Some dances originate in the Renaissance period (such as Branles, Gavottes and Farandoles), and have roots in historic popular and regional cultures in France, while others come from urbanised European ballroom or salon culture in the 19th century (such as the Waltz, Polka, Mazurka, etc.)^[1].

After waning considerably in the 19th century, due to industrialisation and rural-to-urban migration^[1], the steps and techniques of folk and traditional dances were saved thanks in part to archivists and researchers such as Jean-Michel and Hélène Guilcher, who were active in documenting folk dances between 1941 and 1976^[2].

Dancing to folk music has been gaining popularity since the 1970s, in the wake of the May '68 protests in France^[3]. Balfolk are part of a wider folk music revival movement beginning in the 1960s, including musical groups such as Mélusine and Malicorne, Breton-language Tri Yann and Alan Stivell, and Occitan-language Nadau.

In France, the folk club 'Le Bourdon' in Paris, opened in 1969, was one of the first places balfolks were organised regularly^[4]. The club 'La Chanterelle' in Lyon was also another centre for early balfolks^[5].

Once feared to be doomed to disappearance, balfolks are today enjoyed by both the young and old, with older generations transmitting precious lived heritage, and a surge in popularity amongst young adults and students giving hope for continuing the practice^[6].

There are numerous organizations that arrange balfolks monthly, and at many folk festivals there are both concerts and dances.^[7] Many websites, such as Agenda Trad, and Facebook groups allow dancers and music-lovers to find balfolks close to them. Balfolk can be small, intimate affairs or vast outdoor events with many thousands of dancers, such as the annual Grand Bal d'Europe in Gennetines, France.

Although there is often overlap, the dances of bal folk are not the same as dances danced by traditional folk dance groups. Balfolk dances are audience participation events, based on simple traditional dances, gathered from all over Europe, that have easy basic steps, so that anyone can easily participate. Refined movements are not the main concern, participation and fun are the main aim, and improvisation is more common. Music is played by live bands that either play "traditional" tunes, collected from players over the years, or new compositions for balfolk dancing. The audience can be mixed: some on the dance floor, dancing to the live music; others at the front or around the edges, who have come just to listen or watch.

By contrast, traditional folk dances have more formal choreography 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 (who may even be seated) is more clearly separated from the dancers, who may be presented as cultural displays at festivals and village fetes. These are essentially historical re-enactments, and typically what most of the public think of as "Folk dancing" in countries like France, where the public might only be exposed to folk dancing at the village fete. Confusingly, the term bal trad does not refer to this type of traditional dancing, but is instead a synonym of balfolk^[8], used fairly interchangeably.

Instruments used to play live music at a balfolk can be traditional (violin, accordeon or melodeon, bagpipes, hurdy gurdy, graïle, flute, etc) as well as modern or classical (electric guitar, folk guitar, bass guitar, drums, brass, electronic...)^[9].

Unlike some other dancing events, it is common to change partners for each new dance. It is socially acceptable for strangers to approach each other to ask to dance. Some dances, such as mixers (see below), change partners during the course of one dance, providing opportunities to meet new dancers without needing to ask.

1. 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.
2. Bal: one or more folk musicians or folk music groups play for dancing. The line-up of different dances may be shared in advance or announced by microphone just before each new dance begins. Unless there is a 'theme' (for example, a 'mazurka' evening) dances are usually alternated.
3. Jam: after certain bals, dancers who brought an instrument sit in the middle of the dance floor and play tunes for the dancers. This is a more relaxed atmosphere, where musicians can feel free to improvise or try out new material, and dancers may sometimes request certain dances.