Dance is a visually exciting series that takes a look at the many different styles of dance. Each book covers the history and development of a style, from its early origins to its modern form today. With the aid of stunning photographs, the titles also look at choreography, performance and presentation, costumes, music, and the specific characteristics of each style. Country and Folk provides a detailed look at the huge variety of country and folk dancing from all over the world, from line and square dancing, to sword and stick dancing and storytelling within dance. The book looks at the many different styles and steps specific to a variety of country and folk dances. It also explores the part played by costumes, make-up and props: Feature boxes provide detailed information on famous ballets and performances, techniques, amazing facts and biographies of key people, Stunning design and beautiful photography offer a cultural perspective on dance. Book jacket.

The aim of this study is to increase understanding of folk music within an historical, European framework, and to show the genre as a dynamic and changing art form. The book addresses a plethora of questions through its detailed examination of a wide range of music from vastly different national and cultural identities. It attempts to elucidate the connections between, and the varying development of, the music of peoples throughout Europe, firstly by examining the ways in which scholars of different ideological and artistic ambitions have collected, studied and performed folk music, then by investigating the relationship between folk and popular music. Jan Ling is Professor of Musicology at Göteborg University, Sweden.